ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of the Electoral Commission in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that for 2007-08, there were 411 domestic air flights undertaken within Great Britain at a total cost of £52,776.37.

Departmental Buildings

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what the estimated  (a) set-up costs and  (b) yearly running costs of the Electoral Commission's new offices in (i) Exeter, (ii) York and (iii) Coventry are.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that the set-up costs for the English regional offices totalled £113,800.
	These costs break down as: (i) Exeter: £11,400, (ii) York: £11,500 and (iii) Coventry: £47,300. In addition, £43,600 was incurred on costs that are not directly attributable to the individual offices, including the combined joint recruitment process for staff and costs of head office staff in facilitating the set-up of the offices.
	The estimated yearly running costs requested are (i) Exeter: £200,000, (ii) York: £281,000 and (iii) Coventry: £219,000. These costs include staffing, accommodation and associated running costs.

Departmental Responsibilities

Francis Maude: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission how many reviews of electoral regulation the Electoral Commission has conducted or commenced since July 2007; and in which areas.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that it has commenced the following reviews of electoral regulation since July 2007.
	(i) A review of the legislative framework for Returning Officers' election accounts and the accounting arrangements operated by Returning Officers at the National Assembly for Wales elections in 2007.
	(ii) An examination of key issues relating to the regulation of elections in the United Kingdom, including the legal framework for running elections, the system of funding elections and measures for ensuring accountability of electoral administrators.
	(iii) A consultation on regional ballot papers and regional agents as they relate to the conduct of National Assembly for Wales elections.
	(iv) A consultation on the registration of political party descriptions.
	I am informed that the report of the aforementioned first of the reviews listed was published in March 2008 and that the reports of the others will be published later this year. In addition, the Commission will be publishing reports on the administration of the following elections by the end of July 2008:
	May 2008 local elections in England;
	May 2008 local elections in Wales; and
	May 2008 elections for the Mayor of London and the London Assembly.

SCOTLAND

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how long on average his Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

David Cairns: The information is as follows.
	In the 2004-05 Session the Scotland Office:
	 (a) answered 29 per cent. of 113 ordinary written questions within five sitting days.
	 (b) answered 57 per cent. of seven named day questions on the day specified.
	In 2005-06 Session the Scotland Office:
	 (a) answered 48 per cent. of 166 ordinary written questions within five sitting days.
	 (b) answered 89 per cent. of 18 named day questions on the day specified.
	In 2006-07 Session the Scotland Office
	 (a) answered 57 per cent. of 223 ordinary written questions within five sitting days.
	 (b) answered 71 per cent. of 35 named day questions on the day specified.

Taxation

Anne Begg: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on arrangements for collection of local taxation in Scotland.

David Cairns: I have had no discussions with the Scottish Executive on arrangements for collection of local taxation in Scotland.

TREASURY

Child Tax Credit: EC Nationals

Philip Hammond: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average child tax credit payment to EEA nationals resident in the UK in each of the last four years.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available.

Children: Day Care

Susan Kramer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much he expects to spend on his Department's child care voucher scheme in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: HM Treasury pays up to £40 per week to staff depending on eligibility. The annual budgeted cost for the voucher scheme is £180,000 and annual spend based on historic usage is likely to be unchanged for the next five years.

Departmental ICT

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what IT contracts his Department and its agencies have entered into in the last two years.

Angela Eagle: The IT contracts entered into in the last two years by the Treasury Group, which includes HMT, OGC, OGCbuying.solutions and DMO, are as follows:
	IS Agency Staff
	IS Consultancy
	Comprehensive Spending Review website
	Participation Agreement with SPRINT (SCC & Dataserv)
	Technical support and minor enhancements to Learning Management System (Docent)
	Microsoft Enterprise agreements
	Data Link between Trevelyan House and 1HGR
	Technical Refresh of television service
	PC Refresh
	Data circuit from London-Norwich
	Crystal software maintenance
	Firewall design and support
	Intranet information architecture survey
	Data circuit from London-Leeds
	Server Hardware
	Business continuity, Cryptos
	Apple Mac support service
	Storage Area Network
	COINS Infrastructure and Servers
	Content Management System
	AEP Net Remote
	Hard Disk Encryption
	Laptop Refresh
	Data Centre Servers (DCW)
	SalesLogix Support, Maintenance and Development
	Bond Auction Capture System
	Straight through processing (STP) tool support and maintenance
	IT Service management tool and licences
	Service Desk software system upgrade
	Corporate software licensing agreement
	Modernised features for the core trading system
	Data centre & recovery work space services
	Spreadsheet Management Tool support & maintenance
	Hardware goods and warranties
	Installation and managed provision of IPVPN network connections
	Supply and installation of video conferencing equipment and associated network connections including support and maintenance services.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the average pay per hour worked by  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary staff in his Department in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band.

Angela Eagle: Average pay per hour has been obtained from the payroll, which does not differentiate between permanent and temporary staff.
	The hourly rate information is based on annual FTE salary as at 1 August 2007.
	
		
			  Range  Average hourly rate (£) 
			 B 10.27 
			 C 12.45 
			 D 16.24 
			 E 25.22 
			 SCS pay band 1 35.02 
			 SCS pay band 2 53.11 
			 SCS pay band 3 66.08

Departmental Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review salary negotiations for public sector employees in organisations within his Department's responsibility to reflect the rise in the consumer price index to a point above three per cent.

Angela Eagle: The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles. Public sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery; ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within departments' overall expenditure plans; and consistent with the achievement of the inflation target. Timing of pay decisions for a particular workforce depends on pay-setting arrangements for that workforce.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long on average his Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
	Treasury Ministers are committed to answering parliamentary questions promptly wherever possible. In the 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07 parliamentary sessions, 79 per cent., 75 per cent. and 71 per cent. respectively of the named day questions we received were answered on the day nominated by the questioner. In the same three sessions, 84 per cent., 80 per cent. and 83 per cent. of ordinary written questions were answered within a working week of tabling (as provided for in Erskine May, Twenty-third edition, page 342). The corresponding figures for named day questions and ordinary written questions in 2007-08 to date are 60 per cent. and 73 per cent.

Government Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government communication network.

Angela Eagle: The number of press officer posts in the Treasury and its agencies, OGD, OGCbs and DMO—remains constant at 13 full-time equivalents. All have access to the Government communication network.

Income Tax: Tax Rates and Bands

Clive Betts: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the additional yield of an income tax rate of  (a) 50 per cent. on taxable incomes exceeding £250,000 per annum and  (b) 45 per cent. on taxable incomes exceeding £250,000 per annum.

Jane Kennedy: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Mr. Hamilton) on 9 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 113-14W.

Office of Government Commerce: Postal Services

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 713-15W, on departmental standards, what the scope was of the Gateway review undertaken in 2005 on the OGC project Postal Services.

Angela Eagle: There were two OGC Gateway reviews undertaken on the Postal Services project in 2005:
	 Gateway Review 1—Business justification
	The scope of the OGC Gateway 1 Review was to confirm that the business case was robust—that in principle it met business need, was affordable, achievable; that appropriate options were explored and that it was likely to achieve value for money.
	 Gateway Review 2 — Delivery strategy
	The scope of the OGC Gateway 2 Review was to confirm the outline business case and to ensure that the procurement strategy was robust and appropriate.
	The full scope of each Gateway review is set out in the OGC Gateway™ Process documents which can be found on the OGC website:
	www.ogc.gov.uk

Office of Government Commerce: Zanzibar

Justine Greening: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 713-15W, on departmental standards, what the scope was of the Gateway Reviews undertaken in 2004 and 2006 on the OGC project Zanzibar (P).

Angela Eagle: There were three OGC Gateway reviews undertaken on the Zanzibar project in the period 2004 to 2006:
	 Gateway Review 2 — Delivery strategy
	The scope of the Gateway 2 Review was to confirm the outline Business Case and to ensure that the proposed Procurement Strategy was robust and appropriate.
	 Gateway Review 3—Investment Decision
	The scope of the Gateway 3 Review was to confirm the business case and benefits plan, and to check whether all the necessary statutory and procedural requirements were followed throughout the procurement process.
	 Gateway Review 4—Readiness for service
	The scope of the Gateway 4 Review was to confirm whether contractual arrangements were up to date, that necessary testing had been done to the client's satisfaction and that the client was ready to approve implementation.
	The full scope of each Gateway review is set out in the OGC Gateway™ Process documents which can be found on the OGC website:
	www.ogc.gov.uk

Smuggling: Fuels

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what percentage of the  (a) time and  (b) resources of HM Revenue and Customs in Northern Ireland was allocated to tackling illegal fuel smuggling in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many and what percentage of HM Revenue and Customs staff in Northern Ireland are working on oil-related anti-smuggling work.

Angela Eagle: All HMRC Detection staff in Northern Ireland work on a multi-functional basis, deployed to meet the full range of detection duties, including tackling oils related anti-smuggling work.
	HMRC do not record the time or resources specifically allocated to tackling illegal fuel smuggling.

Smuggling: Fuels

David Simpson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many vehicles in Northern Ireland were detected illegally running on red diesel in each of the last three years;
	(2)  how many vehicles in England and Wales were detected illegally running on red diesel in each of the last three years (a) in total and (b) broken down by region.

Angela Eagle: We do not centrally record the number of vehicles running on red diesel.

Taxation: Tax Yield

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the likely change in the projected revenue receipts announced in Budget 2008 from  (a) value added tax,  (b) stamp duty and  (c) corporation tax for (i) 2007-08 and (ii) 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Latest estimates of the growth in  (a) value added tax,  (b) stamp duty and  (c) corporation tax receipts in 2007-08 can be derived from table T1.2 on the HMRC website:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_receipts/table1-2.xls.
	The latest estimates of growth in receipts in 2008-09 were published in table C8 of the 2008 Financial Statement and Budget Report
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/media/7/3/bud08_chapterc.pdf.
	Updated estimates will be published in the forthcoming pre-Budget report.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Public Statues: Oliver Cromwell

John Spellar: To ask the honourable Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission whether the statue of Oliver Cromwell outside Parliament will be restored before the 350th anniversary of Cromwell's death.

Nick Harvey: Tenders for the conservation work to the statue of Cromwell and its stone plinth are currently being sought. Subject to a satisfactory outcome of the tendering process, the work will be carried out during the summer recess and completed in time for the 350th anniversary of Cromwell's death in September 2008.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Apprentices

David Willetts: To ask the Solicitor-General how many  (a) apprenticeships and  (b) advanced apprenticeships there were in the Law Officers' Departments in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Vera Baird: The only Law Officers Department that has offered apprenticeships in the last year is the Crown Prosecution Service. There were 24 apprenticeships and no advanced apprenticeships within the Crown Prosecution Service in 2007-08.

Cannabis: Prosecutions

Anthony Steen: To ask the Solicitor-General pursuant to the answer of 19 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1069W, on cannabis factories, when she plans to send to the hon. Member for Totnes the information she received from the Chief Crown Prosecutor on the 15-year-old Vietnamese boy in Doncaster jailed for tending cannabis plants.

Vera Baird: I have sent a letter today to the hon. Member with details of the case he refers to.

Crown Prosecution Service: Manpower

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Solicitor-General how many Crown Prosecution Service personnel are employed in  (a) Milton Keynes and  (b) Thames Valley.

Vera Baird: There is a total of 225 staff in CPS Thames Valley. Of these, 58 staff are based in the Buckinghamshire office, which covers both Aylesbury and Milton Keynes. The Buckinghamshire office is split geographically into two teams. There are 22.6 staff members on the Milton Keynes team and there are nine staff members in overarching roles that contribute to both Aylesbury and Milton Keynes work. There is an expectation that crown prosecutors from the South Bucks team could be asked to attend courts and charging centres in Milton Keynes and vice versa. The same applies in relation to administrative duties.

TRANSPORT

Airports: Security

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what reports she has received from the UK Border Agency on consultations the Agency has conducted with  (a) controllers and  (b) owners of (i) small ports and (ii) airports on security threats and vulnerabilities.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport has received no such consultations.

Airports: Security

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what discussions her Department has had with the National Counter Terrorism Security Office on preventing the use of small aircraft as airborne vehicle bombs.

Jim Fitzpatrick: We have worked with the police and security agencies to prepare advice to all airfields that host small aircraft operations and flying schools. Leaflets and an anti-terrorist hotline number have been issued to ensure that aerodrome managers are able to report any concerns at their airfields.

Aviation: Royal Family

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the total cost was of feasibility studies and work carried out on the project to lease two aircraft for sole use by the Royal Family and Government Ministers which was cancelled on 27 March 2008.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 26 June 2008
	The total cost of the technical, commercial and financial analysis carried out under the Royal and Ministerial Air Travel Project was £1.25 million. The work was carried out between February 2007 and March 2008, in accordance with Government procurement policy guidelines.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the  (a) scheduled date and  (b) title was of each conference proposed to be hosted by her Department and its agencies which was cancelled before taking place in each of the last 10 years; and what costs were incurred in respect of each.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what procedures her Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to her Department.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Staff secondments are an integral part of the Department's workforce and help ensure we have the necessary skills to meet our business needs. While we must always ensure that such secondees have the skills and experience required, the Department aims to attract a fully diverse range of secondees. The filling of all vacancies, including secondments, is subject to our existing diversity policy to ensure equal opportunities and treatment. Secondees are included in the Departments diversity statistics and targets, which are currently under review.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of successful applicants for jobs in her Department are subjected to a criminal records check; how many  (a) successful applicants and  (b) criminal records checks there were in each of the last 10 years; how many successful applicants were found to have a criminal record after a criminal records check took place in each of the last 10 years; whether the selection of successful candidates to be subjected to a criminal records check is random or targeted; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Staff in the Department and its agencies are subject to criminal record checks when they move to sensitive posts.
	Vetting across the Department is carried out by the DfT Vetting Team. However, they carry out checks for a number of agencies and organisations and do not keep separate records or statistics on total numbers by units.
	The Department for Transport application for registration is currently with Disclosure Scotland to ensure that unspent criminal records are checked for all staff to meet the Baseline Security Standards requirements.

Driving Licences

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many complaints were received by  (a) the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and  (b) her Department on the process by which licence applications are processed by DVLA in each year since 1997, broken down by category of complaint.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information is as follows:
	 (a) Prior to the 2001-02 financial year driver complaints were not sub-categorised and the total driver complaints in each year were:
	
		
			   1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01 
			 Total drivers 250 384 908 597 
		
	
	Since then, driver complaints have been sub-divided into the following categories with associated numbers.
	
		
			   2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Non receipt of driving licence 57 86 87 126 108 204 150 
			 Errors on driving licence 199 195 202 174 186 203 226 
			 Driving licence complaint 168 262 310 312 224 264 281 
			 Driver medical complaint 129 141 429 200 149 288 443 
			 Total drivers 553 684 1,028 812 667 959 1,100 
		
	
	 (b) Complaints received by the Department relating to the way in which driving licence applications are processed are passed to DVLA and are included in the figures provided above.

Driving: Crime

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what record is kept of motoring offences committed overseas by holders of United Kingdom driving licences.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There is no record held on the DVLA database of driving offences committed overseas by United Kingdom licence holders.

Heathrow Airport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the likely effects on the profitability of the operator of Heathrow Airport of the volume of air traffic movements set out in the Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport consultation document.

Jim Fitzpatrick: No specific assessment has been made of the change in the profitability of the operator of Heathrow airport that would result from additional capacity at that airport.
	The breakdown of benefits from additional airport capacity set out in the 'Adding Capacity at Heathrow Airport' consultation document, between passengers, airport operators, Government, and wider effects, are reported in table 4.3 of 'UK Air Passenger Demand and C02 Forecasts'. This is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/environmentalissues/ukairde mandandco2forecasts/
	The table reproduces the figures for the three consultation document options. The row entitled 'Producers' refers to the benefit attributed to airport operators for the purpose of strategic appraisal. This is based on the estimated change in the surplus of revenue over operating costs at all UK airports resulting from the additional capacity. The estimated costs of constructing a third runway and associated infrastructure at Heathrow airport are reported in the consultation document as £7 billion.
	The impact on the operator of Heathrow airport's profitability would also depend on any impacts on landing charges, and the regulatory regime, which would be a matter for the airport operator, airlines, and the CAA.
	
		
			  'Adding Capacity at Heathrow' consultation: breakdown of transport user benefits by option, £ billion, NPV, 2006 prices 
			  Option  One  Two  Three 
			 Generated users 9 9 9 
			 Existing users — — — 
			 Freight users — — — 
			 Producers 5 5 5 
			 Government 3 3 3 
			 Carbon -5 -5 -5 
			 Noise — — — 
			 
			  Delay reductions
			 Users * 1 2 
			 Carbon * — — 
			 
			 Total 12 13 14 
			 '—' Means a non-zero impact is estimated, but the result rounds to nought at zero decimal places. '*' Means no impact has been estimated.  Note: Figures are rounded to zero decimal places.

Highways Agency: Planning

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many community projects are awaiting Highways Agency access criteria approval, broken down by local authority.

Tom Harris: At the present time there is one community project awaiting such approval. The Agency is working closely with Shrewsbury and Atcham borough council over the co-location of Shrewsbury College but has directed that this is not approved for the time being to allow for further details to be provided by the applicant.

M1

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate she has made of the costs of  (a) widening the M1 between junctions 10 and 13 and  (b) deploying hard shoulder running on this stretch.

Tom Harris: We announced in March that we had asked the Highways Agency to investigate alternative options for adding capacity to the M1 between junctions 10 and 13, including hard shoulder running. This work is under way and due to be complete by the autumn. Cost estimates are subject to further work and validation as part of this process.

Motorways: Road Works

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  when she plans to make a decision on the uncompleted parts of the M1/M62 widening/improvements package; and what recent estimate she has made of the cost of this package;
	(2)  what estimate her Department has made of the costs of  (a) widening the M6 between junctions 11a and 19 and  (b) deploying hard shoulder running on this stretch;
	(3)  what estimate her Department has made of the costs of  (a) widening uncompleted parts of the M1/M62 widening and improvement package and  (b) deploying hard shoulder running in these areas.

Tom Harris: On 4 March 2008 the Secretary of State published the "Advanced Motorway Signalling and Traffic Management Feasibility Study". She also announced that the Department for Transport and the Highways Agency would undertake additional detailed work examining managed motorway schemes for those areas identified in the feasibility study as being a high priority, including stretches of the M1, M6 and M62. This includes examining whether hard shoulder running could provide a better value for money solution for schemes which were previously planned as widenings, and this will include the production of cost estimates for these hard shoulder running schemes.
	As part of this process, the cost estimates for the widening schemes following the Nichols Review are subject to further work and validation. This work is under way and due to be complete by the end of the year.

Official Cars

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will list those Ministers who have requested the use of official cars which have been manufactured in the UK in the last three years; and how many such requests were  (a) met and  (b) not met.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 2 July 2008
	The Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) provides ministerial cars and drivers in line with the "Ministerial Code". In the last three years, GCDA has purchased 10 cars that were manufactured in the UK. Nine of these cars were for the use of Secretaries of State and one was for the use of a Minister outside the Cabinet.

Official Cars: Excise Duties

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 154W, on official cars: excise duties, which ministers use the band G vehicle.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 7 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2832W, given to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker).

Olympic Games 2012: Manpower

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many members of staff within her Department are working on transport issues for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Rosie Winterton: The Department for Transport has an Olympic division staffed by 2.75 full time equivalents who oversee the Department's interests in the games. Across the Department a number of staff at all levels are contributing to work related to the games.

Public Safety Zones: Aircraft

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the most recent changes were made by the National Air Traffic Service to its procedures for modelling public safety zones for gliders; and for what reason such changes were made.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Public safety zones (PSZs) are implemented only at the busiest airports. Risk contours for each airport are based on forecasts on the number and type of aircraft movements.
	NATS use a range of data types from generic categories, the aircraft type needs to be broken down by operation, this needs to be classified into categories, for example passenger and cargo.
	Gliders do not fall into any of these categories and are not taken into account as they are not usually found at the busiest airports and so are not incorporated into airport forecasts when PSZs are modelled.

Railway Network

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  how many of the 25 light rail schemes envisaged in the Government's Ten Year Plan for Transport have been delivered;
	(2)  how many miles of light rail line have been constructed since January 2000; and in what locations;

Tom Harris: The 10-year plan published in July 2000 set out indicative figures for the number of light rail schemes that might be delivered by 2010. This was neither a target nor a commitment for the Government. There are currently eight light rail and tramway systems in operation in England.
	Over 45 miles of light rail lines have been constructed in England since 2000, as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Name and location of system  Route miles 
			 Docklands Light Railway (London)—Extension to London City Airport 2.7 
			 Tyne and Wear Metro (Newcastle)—Extension to Sunderland 11.5 
			 Manchester Metrolink Phase 1 (Manchester)—Extension to Eccles 24.2 
			 Croydon Tramlink (Croydon)—3 lines 18 
			 Nottingham Express Transit (Nottingham) 9 
		
	
	In addition, the Docklands Light Railway Extension to Woolwich Arsenal which commenced in June 2005 is expected to be complete in 2009.
	In May 2008, we granted final approval with £244 million towards the £382 million cost to extend the Manchester Metrolink to Oldham, Rochdale and Chorlton. Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive is also providing funding separately to a further extension to Droyslden. We also announced in June 2008 that we are prepared to invest £1.5 billion in support of a £2.8 billion package of measures for Greater Manchester to proceed with its bid under the Government's Transport Innovation Fund. This package includes plans for up to a further 22 miles of extension to the Manchester Metrolink system.
	We have also announced initial funding approval for two extensions for the Nottingham Express Transit and a scheme to refurbish the Blackpool and Fleetwood tram system.
	The Department for Transport is currently considering further proposals to reinvigorate the existing Tyne and Wear Metro.

Roads: Accidents

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many road traffic accidents were caused by newly-qualified drivers in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The information requested is not available.
	However, the Department recently published a research report on the experiences and attitudes of learner and new drivers, including their involvement in accidents. The research studies candidates who completed a postal survey after their practical driving test, and if they passed at six, 12, 24 and 36 months subsequently. The research found that the highest accident rates occurred in the first six months after passing the practical test. This rate was estimated to be equivalent to 0.44 accidents per year. The accident rate then dropped in the next six months to an equivalent of 0.24 accidents per year. The accident rates given include accidents involving low speed manoeuvring, for example in car parks and drives.
	The full study is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/research/rsrr/theme2/cohort2/

Rolling Stock: Consultants

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much her Department had spent on consultancy fees on procurement of the 1,300 extra rail carriages contained in the High Level Output Statement programme at the latest date for which figures are available.

Tom Harris: Up to the end of May 2008 the Department has spent £518,000 on consultant's fees for Pendolino carriages on the West Coast Main Line, and approximately £1.1 million on consultant's fees for the procurement of new rolling stock on the Thameslink programme.

Speed Limits: Signs and Markings

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what her policy is on the use of repeat or reminder speed limit signs.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The law relating to speed limit signs is contained in the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2002 (TSRGD). This states that repeater signs are required to be placed at regular intervals on all roads except street lit roads on which a 30 mph speed limit is in force and unlit roads on which the national speed limit is in force.
	Local authorities are responsible for ensuring repeater signs are placed in accordance with TSRGD.

Transport: Mayor of London

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans she has to have discussions with the Mayor of London on transport issues of shared responsibility.

Rosie Winterton: The Secretary of State will meet the new Mayor of London shortly to discuss transport issues affecting London.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value of the property held by  (a) his Department and  (b) associated public bodies was at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: The information is as follows:
	 (a) The entire estate of the Department for Work and Pensions was sold (freehold, feuhold and long leasehold interests) or transferred (short leasehold interests) to Land Securities Trillium under a PFI known as PRIME.
	 (b) The Rent Service do not hold the market value of the premises they occupy. All properties are leasehold.
	The value of Health and Safety Executive's property (land and buildings) at 31 March 2008 was £64.3 million; £59.3 million of which relates to the Health and Safety Laboratory's PFI contract at Buxton.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments were completed by his Department for a cost in excess of £0.5 million in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 to which the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method or equivalent was applied; how many such buildings were assessed as (A) pass, (B) good, (C) very good and (D) excellent; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments for a cost in excess of £0.5 million were completed by his Department in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08.

Anne McGuire: Information on new builds and major refurbishments completed by the Department for a cost in excess of £0.5 million in 2005-06, 2006-07, and 2007-08 is provided in the following tables.
	
		
			  New builds completed with a cost in excess of £0.5 million 
			   Number 
			 2005-06 3 
			 2006-07 6 
			 2007-08 5 
		
	
	
		
			  Refurbishments completed with a cost in excess of £0.5 million 
			   Number 
			 2005-06 154 
			 2006-07 122 
			 2007-08 31 
		
	
	BREEAM information relating to new builds and refurbishments completed for a cost in excess of £0.5 million in 2005-06 and 2006-07 is contained within the table as follows and has been reported in the Sustainable Development in Government Reports for 2006 and 2007. These can be accessed via the following links:
	http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications/downloads/sdig_report_2007.pdf
	http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications/downloads/sdig_report_2006.pdf
	
		
			  New builds completed for a cost in excess of £0.5 million to which BREEAM was applied 
			  BREEAM rating  2005-06  2006-07 
			 A-Pass 0 0 
			 B-Good 0 0 
			 C-Very Good 0 5 
			 D-Excellent 1 0 
			 Total 1 5 
		
	
	BREEAM applications have not been made for refurbishments as they relate to internal refit only and therefore do not affect the fabric of the building.
	BREEAM information for 2007-08 is currently being validated and collated by the Department for publication in the Sustainable Development in Government Report 2008. The latest BREEAM assessments do though demonstrate a positive trend and that ratings of very good to excellent are being achieved. In recognition of the need to achieve BREEAM excellence, the Department has included the objective within its overall Estate Strategy.

Departmental Home Working

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in his Department are authorised to work from home.

Anne McGuire: The information on the number of people authorised to work from home within DWP is not collated centrally. It is controlled and managed locally and the collation of such information would involve disproportionate cost.

Departmental Internet

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria his Department uses to decide what information uploaded to his Department's website should be included in the "What's new" section of the website.

Anne McGuire: The Department uses the following criteria to decide what information published on its website to include in the "What's New" section.
	Is it:
	a new policy publication?
	a new consultation?
	a consultation response?
	a new publicity campaign?
	a significant new addition to the website?
	The Department does not include every new addition to the website as this would make the "What's new" section too long and unusable.

Departmental Marketing

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the design of the "our values" logo used in his Department's literature cost.

Anne McGuire: The DWP values comprise four elements: "Achieving the Best", "Looking Outwards", "Making a Difference" and "Respecting People", which are the guiding principles for how we deliver our services to our customers and have been in use since 2001, on a variety of products that relate to business and personal development. The cost of the development of values icons was £10,782.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 187W, on departmental official hospitality, when he expects the list of hospitality received in 2007 by members of his Department's management board to be published.

Anne McGuire: I refer the hon. Member to the answer the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster gave him on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 885W.

Departmental Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will review salary negotiations for public sector employees in organisations within his Department's responsibility to reflect the rise in the consumer price index to a point above 3 per cent.

Anne McGuire: The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles. Public sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery; ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within Departments' overall expenditure plans; and consistent with the achievement of the inflation target. Timing of pay decisions for a particular work force depends on pay-setting arrangements for that work force.

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications his Department has submitted in the last 24 months.

Anne McGuire: Land Securities Trillium(1) has made 54 planning applications in the last 24 months in respect of sites occupied by the Department. This figure comprises seven applications to construct new properties located in Selly Oak, Hanley, Burnley, Bournemouth, Seven Kings London, Falkirk and Glasgow and a further 47 for lesser works at various locations, where applications were made for alterations such as plant installation (air conditioning condensing units), window replacements and roller shutter doors.
	No licensing applications have been submitted by the Department.
	(1 )Land Securities Trillium provides the Department with fully fitted and serviced accommodation (under a 20 year PFI contract which commenced in 1998) and is responsible for the management of legal applications required to manage the estate.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much was spent on  (a) new furnishings,  (b) art and  (c) new vehicles by his Department in each of the last three years.

Anne McGuire: The information requested on new furnishings and new vehicles is provided in the following table. All art works in the Department are on loan from the Government Art Collection.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  Cost of new furnishings( 1)  Cost of new vehicles( 2) 
			 2005-06 8 4.163 
			 2006-07 11 3.580 
			 2007-08 5 0.008 
			 (1 )Total furniture costs include desks, chairs and other office furnishings. (2 )The figures provided for the cost of new vehicles represent capital spend. The Department changed from purchasing to leasing vehicles in August 2007.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what procedures his Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

Anne McGuire: Staff secondments to the Department are carried out in accordance with the Department's diversity and equality policies and procedures. There are no restrictions in relation to staff secondment on the grounds of issues such as age, grade, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation. However, individual secondment opportunities may have their own specific requirements.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to what premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels  (a) his Department and  (b) each of its agencies subscribes; and at what yearly cost in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Anne McGuire: With regard to annual subscriptions cost in the financial year 2007-08, with premium Sky digital or cable television channels, the Department reports a nil spend for itself and its agencies.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of overseas visits by each Minister in his Department has been since 1997.

Anne McGuire: Since 1999 the Government have published the total cost of all overseas travel by Ministers and a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over £500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1112W. Details for the financial year 2007-08 will be published before the summer recess and will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	Information in respect of overseas visits by all Ministers for the period 1997 to 1999 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Incapacity Benefit

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people beginning to claim incapacity benefit were entitled to an age addition in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 6 June 2008
	The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  Incapacity benefit/severe disablement allowance on-flows with an age addition 
			  Flowed on in the year ending August  With age addition 
			 2003 13,000 
			 2004 12,800 
			 2005 14,200 
			 2006 14,000 
			 2007 14,600 
			  Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.  2. Totals may not sum due to rounding.  3. Figures relate to number of claims, not the number of people. If a person flows on to incapacity benefit in the year ending August 2003, flows off incapacity benefit, then flows back on in the year ending August 2005, s/he will be counted as an on-flow in both of those years.   Source:  Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate, 5 per cent sample.

Ipsos MORI

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what payments his Department and its agencies have made to Ipsos MORI in the last 24 months; and for what purposes.

Anne McGuire: My Department has made payments totalling £1.942 million in the last 24 months to Ipsos MORI in respect of professional fees and services.

Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many copies of the  Morning Star publication his Department and each of its agencies subscribes to each week; and at what cost.

Anne McGuire: The Department and its agencies do not subscribe to any copies of the  Morning Star and there is therefore no cost incurred.

Pension Credit

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much has been paid in pension credit to pensioners in each year since October 2003.

Mike O'Brien: The answer is shown in real terms and nominal terms in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1: Pension credit expenditure 
			  Nominal terms (£ million) 
			   Outturn  Provisional outturn 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Minimum Income Guarantee 2,438 — — — — 
			 Pension Credit—Guarantee Credit 2,091 5,016 5,412 5,770 6,170 
			 Pension Credit—Savings Credit 322 955 1,014 1,098 1,162 
			 Total 4,851 5,971 6,426 6,869 7,332 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 : Pension credit expenditure 
			  Real terms 2008-09 prices  (£ million) 
			   Outturn  Provisional outturn 
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Minimum Income Guarantee 2,799 — — — — 
			 Pension Credit—Guarantee Credit 2,401 5,603 5,921 6,136 6,355 
			 Pension Credit—Savings Credit 369 1,067 1,109 1,168 1,197 
			 Total 5,569 6,670 7,030 7,305 7,552 
			  Notes: 1. Figures may not sum as they have been rounded to the nearest million. 2. Pension credit replaced minimum income guarantee in October 2003. 3. Separate net expenditure figures for minimum income guarantee and pension credit in 2003-04 are not available. However, separate gross expenditure figures are available, and these have been used to apportion total net expenditure between the two benefits.  Source: Budget 2008 Benefit Expenditure Tables and DWP Accounting Systems.

Vertex Data Science

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the value of contracts held by his Department with Vertex Data Science Ltd. was in each of the last five years.

Anne McGuire: Expenditure by the Department with Vertex Data Science Ltd. in each of the last five years is:
	
		
			  Financial year  Annual expenditure (£) 
			 2007-08 22,045,000 
			 2006-07 5,723,000 
			 2005-06 4,000 
			 2004-05 300 
			 2003-04 600 
			 Total 27,772,900

WOMEN AND EQUALITY

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what estimate she has made of the average pay per hour worked by  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary staff in the Government Equalities Office in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band.

Barbara Follett: The Government Equalities Office estimates the following rates of pay for permanent and temporary civil servants by pay band as shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Grade  Hourly rate( 1) 
			 Senior Civil Service 66.98 
			 Grade 6 47.45 
			 Grade 7 37.03 
			 Senior Executive Officer 27.77 
			 Higher Executive Officer (Developmental) 18.51 
			 Higher Executive Officer 23.14 
			 Executive Officer 20.25 
			 Administrative Officer 17.36 
			 (1) Includes contribution for national insurance, superannuation and pensions.

Employment: Discrimination

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with businesses on the elimination of gender discrimination in the workplace.

Barbara Follett: I have had a number of discussions with business organisations on gender and other equality issues over the last few months. In May I hosted a reception for over 100 businesswomen and female entrepreneurs. In June I met with John Cridland, Deputy Director-General of the CBI, and I was also pleased to attend and address a recent event organised by the CBI and TUC to launch their recent publication "Talent Not Tokenism".

Social Problems: Research

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what research she has evaluated on the relationship between motherhood, family stability and social breakdown.

Barbara Follett: The Government Equalities Office has not commissioned or evaluated research on the relationship between motherhood, family stability and social breakdown.

Tax Office: Manpower

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what recent discussions she has had with HM Treasury about the proportion of women among staff losing their jobs as a result of tax office reorganisation in  (a) Northamptonshire and  (b) England.

Barbara Follett: holding answer 19 June 2008
	I have had no recent discussions with HM Treasury about this issue.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality how much timber and how many timber products were procured by the Government Equalities Office since its establishment; and at what cost.

Barbara Follett: None.

DEFENCE

Air Force: Reserve Forces

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many part-time reserve air crew there are in  (a) the Royal Auxiliary Air Force,  (b) Air Experience Flights,  (c) University Air Squadron Institutions and  (d) the Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch.

Bob Ainsworth: The following table shows the breakdown by category and the total number of part-time reserve air crew.
	
		
			  Branch  Number of part-time reserve air crew personnel 
			 Reserve Air Force(1) 46 
			 Air Experience Flights (AEF) and University Air Squadron Institutions (UAS)(2) 270 
			 Royal Naval Reserve Air Branch (RNR) 108 
			 Total 424 
			 (1) The Reserve Air Force comprises the RAF Reserve and the Royal Auxiliary Air Force. (2) It is not possible to show separate figures for AEF and UAS.

Armed Forces: Manpower

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the number of serving members of the armed forces who are unable to participate in frontline duties and who wish remain in active service;
	(2)  how many troops have been removed from frontline duties as a result of injury in each of the last five years.

Bob Ainsworth: holding answer 2 July 2008
	This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Armed Forces: Pensions

Colin Challen: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people are in receipt of a military pension; and what the cost of military pension provision was on the last date for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: The number of people in receipt of an armed forces pension as at 31 March 2007 and the cost for financial year 2006-07 is shown in the following table.
	
		
			   People in receipt of a pension  Cost (£ billion) 
			 War Disablement Pension Scheme 212,535 1.038 
			 Armed Forces Pension Scheme 383,021 3.028 
		
	
	The cost of pension provision has been interpreted as including the future financial liability. Within the MOD accounting records a liability is recognised to cover future pension payments to all members of the Armed Forces Pension Scheme. As at 31 March 2007, the liability was approximately £100 billion. There is no liability for the War Disablement Pension Scheme.

Armed Forces: Personnel Management

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) individual service personnel accessing self-service terminals and  (b) human resources staff in the services have received training on the use of the Joint Personnel Administration system.

Derek Twigg: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 917W, to the hon. Member for Woodspring (Dr. Fox).

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for North Durham of 13 June 2008,  Official Report, column 556W, on armoured fighting vehicles, if he will break the £130 million expenditure down by year.

Bob Ainsworth: Expenditure on the Future Rapid Effects System since the launch of the assessment phase in 2004 is £127.993 million. This answer corrects the previous answer I gave on 13 June 2008,  Official Report, column 556W, to my hon. Friend the Member for North Durham (Mr. Jones). The breakdown of this figure by year is as follows:
	
		
			   Expenditure (£ million) 
			 2004-05 6.930 
			 2005-06 48.748 
			 2006-07 45.317 
			 2007-08 26.998

Bomb Disposal

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1013-14W, on bomb disposal, what definition he uses of  (a) improvised explosive device and  (b) conventional munitions.

Bob Ainsworth: The definitions used by the Ministry of Defence for an improvised explosive device and conventional munitions are:
	Improvised explosive device is defined as a device placed or fabricated in an improvised manner, incorporating destructive, lethal, noxious, pyrotechnic or incendiary chemicals, and designed to destroy, incapacitate, harass or distract. It may incorporate military stores but are normally devised from non-military components.
	Conventional munitions, in the context of conventional munitions disposal, are defined as stray munitions from both world wars, subsequent military conflicts and training. This can include those with chemical warheads.

Defence

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with defence sector  (a) manufacturers and  (b) interest groups in the last 12 months.

Bob Ainsworth: Defence Ministers have held the following meetings with defence sector manufacturers and interest groups specifically linked to defence sector manufacture over the period 7 May 2007 to 7 May 2008.
	 Secretary of State for Defence
	6 May 2007 - Meeting with a representative from Boeing
	2 August 2007 - Visit to Selex Sensors
	3 August 2007 - Visit to Rolls Royce
	16 August 2007 - Visit to Seebyte
	11 February 2008 - Visit to Babcock Marine
	15 February 2008 - Visit to Thales Optronics
	 Minister of State for the Armed Forces
	4 September 2007 - Visit to NP Aerospace
	 Minister of Defence Equipment and Support
	9 May 2007 - Meeting with representatives from Boeing
	16 May 2007 - Meeting with representatives from CSEU Trades Union
	21 May 2007 - Meeting with representatives from Civil Service Trades Unions
	11 June 2007 - Meeting with representatives from Thales
	21 June 2007 - Meeting with representatives from Marshalls of Cambridge
	25 June 2007 - Meeting with a representative from Ultra Electronics
	2 July 2007 - Meeting with representatives from BAe Systems
	12 July 2007 - Meeting with representatives from EADS
	12 July 2007 - Meeting with representatives from Lockheed Martin
	16 July 2007 - Meeting with representatives from BAeS, Thales, Babcock, VT, Carrier Alliance and CSEU Trades Union
	23 July 2007 - Meeting with representatives from GMB Union
	24 July 2007 - Meeting with a representative from MBDA
	24 July 2007 - Meeting with representatives from T&G Union
	4 September 2007 - Meeting with a representative from EADS
	13 September 2007 - Meeting with representative from GDUK
	13 September 2007 - Meeting with a representative from Vector
	18 September 2007 - Meeting with a representative from BAe Systems
	18 September 2007 - Meeting with a representative from EADS
	19 September 2007 - Meeting with a representative from Finmeccanica
	4 October 2007 - Meeting with representatives from Boeing
	18 October 2007 - Meeting with representatives from Qinetiq
	29 October 2007 - Meeting with a representative from BAe Systems
	29 October 2007 - Meeting with representatives from Lockheed Martin
	31 October 2007 - Meeting with a representative from VT
	31 October 2007 - Meeting with a representative from CVF JV
	27 November 2007 - Meeting with representatives from BAe Systems
	28 November 2007 - Meeting with a representative from Thales
	28 November 2007 - Meeting with a representative from VT
	12 December 2007 - Meeting with representatives from the CSEU Trades Union
	13 December 2007 - Meeting with representatives from MBDA
	18 December 2007 - Meeting with a representative from Serco
	18 December 2007 - Meeting with a representative from Babcock
	23 January 2008 - Meeting with a representative from Lockheed Martin
	24 January 2008 - Meeting with a representative from the CSEU Trades Union
	29 January 2008 - Meeting with representatives from Finmeccanica and Agusta Westland
	29 January 2008 - Meeting with a representative from GD UK
	29 January 2008 - Meeting with representatives from CSEU Trades Union
	30 January 2008 - Meeting with representatives from Boeing
	30 January 2008 - Meeting with representatives from the West of England Aerospace Forum
	5 February 2008 - Meeting with representatives from Marshalls
	19 February 2008 - Meeting with a representative from Eurocopter
	26 February 2008 - Meeting with representatives from EADS
	26 February 2008 - Meeting with a representative from Finmeccanica
	27 February 2008 - Meeting with a representative from BAe Systems
	11 March 2008 - Meeting with a representative from Chemring
	13 March 2008 - Meeting with a representative from Agusta Westland
	18 March 2008 - Meeting with representatives from MBDA
	20 March 2008 - Meeting with a representative from Joint Venture
	20 March 2008 - Meeting with a representative from Thales
	20 March 2008 - Meeting with a representative from Rolls Royce
	25 March 2008 - Meeting with a representative from Qinetiq
	27 March 2008 - Meeting with a representative from EADS
	2 April 2008 - Meeting with a representative from Raytheon
	3 April 2008- Meeting with representatives from CCSU Trades Union
	 Under-Secretary of State
	Nil return
	The Secretary of State has conducted visits to defence manufacturers in his capacities both as Secretary of State for Scotland and Secretary of State for Defence. For completeness, all such visits are included.

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Derek Twigg: The information is not held in the format requested, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Car Allowances

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what level of car mileage payment is made under his Department's travel to work scheme; and when that level  (a) was last and  (b) will next be reviewed.

Derek Twigg: Civilian employees eligible for assistance with travel to the normal place of work following a transfer, have the additional costs based on the method of travel. Where a vehicle is used it is calculated using the private travel rate of motor mileage allowance of 25p per mile. The Department bases this on HM Revenue and customs authorised mileage allowance payments for travel above 10,000 miles. This has not changed since it was set on 6 April 2002. The private travel rate of motor mileage allowance will next be reviewed in line with any change to the HM Revenue and Customs rate for travel over 10,000 miles. No changes were made in 2007-08.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the  (a) scheduled date and  (b) title was of each conference proposed to be hosted by his Department and its agencies which was cancelled before taking place in each of the last 10 years; and what costs were incurred in respect of each.

Derek Twigg: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Expert Groups

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expert groups his Department set up in each year since 1999.

Derek Twigg: Details of formal, standing bodies set up by Government to provide independent, expert advice to Departments and Ministers are published annually by the Cabinet Office. These bodies, known as advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), are listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication. "Public Bodies" also contains some details on short-term advisory groups and task forces. Copies of "Public Bodies" dating back to 1999 can be viewed and downloaded from:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp
	Copies are also available in the Library for the reference of Members.
	The Ministry of Defence issues a "Supplementary Document MOD Non Departmental Public Bodies" which is available on the MOD website at:
	http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/4C8D6BF808054 F469A638 CFC40660008/0/MOD_non_departmental_publicbodies.pdf.

Departmental Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many permanent staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies are classed as (i) staff without posts and (ii) part of a people action team.

Derek Twigg: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review salary negotiations for public sector employees in organisations within his Department's responsibility to reflect the rise in the consumer price index to a point above three per cent.

Derek Twigg: The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles. Public sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery; ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within Departments' overall expenditure plans; and consistent with the achievement of the inflation target. Timing of pay decisions for a particular work force depends on pay-setting arrangements for that work force.

Gurkhas: Pensions

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of changing retrospectively all Gurkha and Gurkha veteran pension and gratuity arrangements so that they are the same as those relating to non-Gurkha soldiers for each year of their service.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 30 June 2008
	The pension arrangements of serving and retired Gurkhas in service on or after 1 July 1997 were examined as part of the Review into Gurkha Terms and Conditions of Service the outcome of which was announced on 8 March 2007,  Official Report, columns 141-42WS. As a result, a pension transfer offer was made to all eligible Gurkhas to allow them to transfer their benefits from the Gurkha pension scheme to one of two armed forces pension schemes. The offer gave equivalent pension value only for service on or after 1 July 1997 at a cost of around £150 million.
	These changes were a response to the changes in the Gurkha's role and status since the completion of the withdrawal from Hong Kong on 1 July 1997, when the Brigade became a UK based force. Before 1 July 1997 the Gurkhas were based primarily in the Far East, with an expectation that they would retire to Nepal.
	The cost of extending the terms of the offer to give equivalent pension arrangements for prior service to Gurkhas serving on or after 1 July 1997 has been estimated at a total of around £320 million. No estimate has been made of the cost of including Gurkhas who ceased to serve prior to 1 July 1997 in these arrangements, although it is believed that this would run into many hundreds of millions of pounds. Such a move would also be counter to the general policy of successive Governments that there should be no retrospective improvements to pensions and similar benefits—a policy which has been applied across the public sector in the United Kingdom, not just to Gurkha veterans.

HMS Ontario

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Government has ownership of the wreck of HMS Ontario; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to my hon. Friend.

Kosovo: Peacekeeping Operations

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 724W, on Kosovo: peacekeeping operations, whether he has received a request from NATO to extend the operational reserve force beyond 30th June.

Bob Ainsworth: The Department did not receive a request from NATO to extend the deployment of the UK Operational Reserve Force battalion in Kosovo beyond 30 June 2008.

Military Aircraft

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many aircraft of each type are in the Royal Air Force.

Bob Ainsworth: The RAF management plan for 2007-08 provides the numbers of aircraft planned to be in service with the RAF on 31 March 2009. The numbers are:
	
		
			  Aircraft type  Fleet number 
			 Typhoon(1) 55 
			 Tornado GR(2) 136 
			 Tornado F3 59 
			 Harrier(3) 77 
			 Nimrod MR2 15 
			 Nimrod R 3 
			 Nimrod MRA4(4) 1 
			 Tristar 9 
			 VC10(5) 16 
			 Sentry 7 
			 Sentinel 5 
			 Hercules K(6) 15 
			 Hercules J 24 
			 C-17(7) 5 
			 BAe 146 2 
			 BAe 125 6 
			 Sea King 25 
			 Dominie 9 
			 Hawk T1 107 
			 Hawk 128(8) 12 
			 Tucano 95 
			 Vigilant 64 
			 Viking 82 
			 (1 )Assessment of damage to one Typhoon which crashed in USA continues. If this is retained in the departmental fleet the total fleet will increase to 56. (2) Two fewer aircraft have been withdrawn from service than planned, therefore actual number of Tornado GR now planned to be in service is 138. (3) Does not reflect the loss of one Harrier on 16 June 2008, nor a further airframe which had previously been assessed as Cat 4 (damaged) during a 2005 ground incident and which has now been assessed as Cat 5 (beyond economic repair). (4) Due to slippage of the programme, no Nimrod MRA4 will be delivered in the current period. (5) Does not reflect that one aircraft will be retired in July 2008. (6) Does not reflect the loss of one aircraft on 23 August 2007. (7) Does not reflect that a sixth C-17 announced by Secretary of State on 26 July 2007 will be delivered in 2008. (8) Does not reflect that three additional aircraft are now to be delivered in year.

Military Bases: Aviation

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 30 June 2008, which military airfield with a runway and infrastructure able to accommodate a Boeing 747 is closest to London.

Bob Ainsworth: RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, are the closest military airfields to London with a runway and infrastructure able to safely accommodate a Boeing 747.

Military Decorations

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence where the roll of military recipients of the medals of the Order of the British Empire awarded between 1917 and 1922 is located; if he will place a copy in the Library; whether these awards were affected by the revision in the Order of the British Empire in 1922 and the creation of the George Cross in 1940; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The duty of keeping records of appointments to the Order of the British Empire and awards of the associated British Empire Medal lies with the Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood, an office in the Royal Household.
	If any internal administrative records of awards of the medal were kept by the Admiralty, War Office or Air Ministry between 1917 and 1922 they will either have been destroyed or passed to the National Archives (Public Record Office).
	I am unable to comment on the changes that may have come about more recently as these are a matter for the Cabinet Office.

Prisoners of War

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much funding exists in the Special Fund for Far Eastern Prisoners of War; what will happen to the fund when all claimants are deceased; and what assessment he has made of the merits of using that fund to support long-term elderly care for former far eastern prisoners of war.

Derek Twigg: The Far East (Prisoners of War and Internees) Fund is a registered charity. As such, the management of the Fund is a matter for the Trustees who may be contacted by writing to the Secretary c/o 92 Denton Road, Audenshaw, Manchester M34 5BD.

War Graves

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what Commonwealth War Graves sites there are; and when each site was last inspected.

Derek Twigg: The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) confirms it has over 23,000 sites in some 150 countries. Given the number of sites it is not possible to provide details on when each individual site was last inspected without incurring disproportionate cost.

World War I: Anniversaries

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made on plans to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Armistice in November 2008; and what events are proposed.

Derek Twigg: As I announced in my written ministerial statement on 22 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 33-34WS, we plan to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the First World War Armistice at an event centred around a service and wreath laying at the Cenotaph on Tuesday 11 November. Planning for this event is progressing well and we are engaging with interested parties to ensure that we organise what I am sure will be a fitting event for this important anniversary. Details of the event will be announced once these plans are more fully developed.
	We are in discussions with the French Government on their plans to mark the anniversary.

HOME DEPARTMENT

101 Calls

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will review the decision not to proceed with the national implementation of the 101 non-emergency number; and if she will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Home Office has decided not to continue to fund directly the live 101 (Single Non-Emergency Number) pilot areas but will continue to provide funding to support the national 101 telephony routing infrastructure to ensure that the number remains available for use by local areas wishing to maintain or develop their own locally funded 101 service. This was a difficult decision taken in the context of significant pressures and competing policing and security priorities.
	We acknowledge the many benefits achieved by the five pilot 101 partnerships and the commitment to improving services that these achievements represent. It is hoped that the lessons learned about effective partnership working and improved access and quality of service in dealing with community safety issues will be mainstreamed into local operations wherever possible.
	The Home Office has also made available a 101 delivery toolkit which brings together all the work that has been put into 101. The toolkit provides details of the evaluation and lessons learned from the service to date and gives guidance, example documentation and supporting material to help areas explore, implement and operate the 101 service locally.

Members: Correspondence

Paul Keetch: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to reply to the letters of 11, 19 and 25 February and 11 March from the hon. Member for Hereford on his constituent, Mrs. Jane Clegg (reference C442441) and her application for indefinite leave to remain in the UK; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: Under Cabinet Office guidelines, the chief executive of a Government agency may sign routine matters when directed by Ministers. In accordance with these guidelines a reply was sent by the chief executive of the UK Border Agency to the hon. Gentleman's letters of 11, 19 and 25 February on 6 March and to the hon. Gentleman's letter of 11 March on 8 April.

Police: Standards

David Ruffley: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the levels of satisfaction with the police  (a) following responses to 999 calls and  (b) of victims of (i) violent crime, (ii) domestic burglary and (iii) theft in each police authority area in England in each year since 1997-98.

Tony McNulty: In recent years public confidence in the police has been increasing and currently 52 per cent. think they are doing a good or excellent job in their local area. Increasing public confidence in crime fighting agencies is vitally important if crime is to be tackled effectively and if the public is to feel safer—that is why it is a key aim of this Government and a key part of the new Public Service Agreements.
	Victims' satisfaction with the police has been improving over this period with small but significant improvements. Between 2004-05 and 2006-07 victims' satisfaction with the whole experience increased from 78.5 per cent. to 80.3 per cent.
	Satisfaction data have been collected by police forces from victims of burglary, road traffic collisions, vehicle crime, violent crime and racist incidents since 2004-05. Data have not been collected separately on thefts.
	Nationally, the overall satisfaction of victims of burglaries was 87.4 per cent. at the end of 2006-07, remaining stable since 2004-05. For victims of violent crime, overall satisfaction increased significantly in the same period to 74.5 per cent.
	Home Office assessments of those data have been included in the Police Performance Assessments published in 2005, 2006 and 2007. These assessments show data and assessments for each police force in England and Wales and are available on the Home Office police performance and measurement website.
	Data on satisfaction with the police following responses to 999 calls are not currently collected by the Home Office.

Ports: Environmental Health

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many port health inspectors were based at  (a) Heathrow,  (b) Gatwick,  (c) Stansted,  (d) Luton,  (e) the Port of Dover and  (f) other ports of entry in each year since 1997;
	(2)  whether her Department has a target ratio of passengers to port medical inspectors at ports of entry into the United Kingdom; and if she will make a statement;
	(3)  how many port medical inspectors are in place at Heathrow Airport Terminal 5.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	Health-related activity at international ports, airports and ground crossings in England falls into two distinct categories. First, local authorities (LAs) are responsible for implementation of the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984 and regulations thereunder. Secondly, the UK Border Agency of the Home Office is responsible for implementation of the Immigration Act 1971.
	Local authorities, and port health authorities constituted under the 1984 Act, deploy a variety of expert officers to apply the provisions of the Public Health (Ships) Regulations 1979, the Public Health (Aircraft) Regulations 1979, and the Public Health (International Trains) Regulations 1994 (all as amended), as the case may be, at the points of entry for which they are responsible. LAs are supported in this by close working with the Health Protection Agency. Information is not held centrally about the detailed deployment of expert officers at seaports, airports and rail termini.
	An immigration officer acting under the 1971 Act may require medical advice concerning the health status of a person subject to immigration control, in order to determine that person's application for entry to the United Kingdom. The immigration officer may refer that person to a medical inspector appointed under the 1971 Act for that purpose. Medical inspectors are appointed by the Health Protection Agency from registered medical practitioners who are available for such work, largely on a sessional or on-call basis. Information is not held centrally on the detailed deployment of medical inspectors at seaports, airports and rail termini.
	Central Government do not lay down staffing ratios at points of entry. These are best determined by local operational managers.

Visas

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate she has made of the percentage of the world's population who would require a visa to enter the United Kingdom.

Liam Byrne: In 2007 we issued the Cabinet Office Border Review. This confirmed that "Nationals of over one hundred countries—three-quarters of the world's population—must apply for permission (or visa) to come to the UK".
	I also refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I provided on 11 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 342-43W, in which I provided information relating to visa and non-visa nationals entry to the UK.

WALES

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications his Department has submitted in the last 24 months.

Paul Murphy: My Department has submitted two planning applications in the last 24 months, relating to work to the fabric of Gwydyr House.

Departmental Responsibilities

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many reviews of regulation his Department has conducted or commenced since July 2007; and in which areas.

Paul Murphy: None, by the nature of its work the Wales Office does not exercise Executive functions, so does not impose regulatory burdens on business.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in his Department in the last 24 months.

Paul Murphy: My Department has reported the loss of three passes, used solely for access to the Wales Office, in the past 24 months.

Food

James Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales 
	(1)  how much was spent by his Department on  (a) food and  (b) food of British origin in each of the last five years;
	(2)  from which five countries of origin the greatest amount of food was procured by his Department in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) cost and  (b) quantity procured was in each case.

Paul Murphy: The Wales Office does not have any in-house catering service. External caterers supply food and drink for meetings and receptions in London and Cardiff. Records are not kept in such a way as to show the amount paid for food separately. Catering for functions and meetings in London and Cardiff includes, where possible and consistent with value for money, a mixture of fair trade or locally sourced produce.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Bookmakers

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will make it his policy to bring forward amendments to the Gambling Act 2005 to ensure that bookmakers' list positions are recognised beyond 2012; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: We wish to see individual racecourses and the bookmakers who use them proceeding with detailed negotiations on the new contracts which will govern allocation of pitches and the parties' duties and responsibilities from 1 September 2012. I hope these negotiations will build on the key principles agreed by both sides in the Existing Betting Areas Working Party chaired by Sholto Douglas-Home. These principles were published on my Department's website. Among other issues, the Working Party considered how the interests of existing holders of pitch list positions might be protected.
	I expect the outstanding issues to be resolved through negotiations and I will be convening a meeting in six months to assess progress. All options will continue to be kept under review, including the legislative option.

Departmental Buildings

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the allocation per person of office space is, in square metres, in  (a) each of his Department's offices and  (b) each office of its sponsored bodies.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is as follows.
	 (a) The allocation per person of office space at the Department's Cockspur street office is 13.7 square metres. This does not include Tottenham Court road which houses the Government Art Collection.
	 (b) The allocation per person of office space is only available for the six sponsored bodies as shown in the following table.
	
		
			   Allocation 
			  Arts Council England  
			 Greater Peter Street, London 11.6 
			 Pear Tree Court, London 8.9 
			 Central Square, Newcastle on Tyne 18.1 
			 Bond Street, Wakefield 30.5 
			 Senate Court, Exeter 16.4 
			 Granville Street, Birmingham 15.5 
			 Eden House, Cambridge 17.2 
			 Sovereign House, Brighton 16.6 
			 Manchester House, Manchester 15.7 
			 St. Nicholas Court, Nottingham 16.4 
			 Bond Street, Dewsbury 21.4 
			   
			  Big Lottery Fund  
			 Beaufort House, Exeter 18.1 
			 Pearl Assurance House, Nottingham 11.1 
			 St. James Gate, Newcastle on Tyne 15.1 
			 Carlton Tower, Leeds 22.2 
			 Newton Ladywell House, Newtown 19.8 
			 Cromac Quay, Belfast 14.2 
			 York House, Manchester 14.8 
			 Kingsway, Cardiff 20.1 
			 Atlantic Quay, Glasgow 15.1 
			 Elizabeth House, Cambridge 52.0 
			 Plough Place, London 11.4 
			 Apex House, Birmingham 18.9 
			   
			  Museums, Libraries and Archives Council  
			 Victoria House, London 10.6 
			 MLA East Midlands, Leicester 18.3 
			 Regent House, Bury St Edmunds 20.0 
			 MLA London, London 7.5 
			 House of Recovery, Newcastle on Tyne 15.5 
			 The Malt Building, Warrington 13.1 
			 Unit 8/15/31, Winchester 13.2 
			 Creech Castle, Taunton 23.0 
			 Grosvenor House, Birmingham 24.0 
			 Marshall Court, Leeds 17.4 
			   
			  Heritage Lottery Fund  
			 Carlton Tower, Leeds 19.2 
			 St. Nicholas Building, Newcastle on Tyne 18.4 
			 Holbein Place, London 12.6 
			 Trinity Court, Exeter 23.8 
			 King Street, Manchester 24.1 
			 St. Mary Street, Cardiff 19.5 
			 St. Nicholas Court, Nottingham 19.8 
			 Bank House, Birmingham 23.9 
			 Terrington House, Cambridge 24.2 
			 Third Floor, Belfast 18.0 
			 Thistle Street, Edinburgh 11.9 
			   
			  English Heritage  
			 Tanner Row, York 14.2 
			 Colmore Row, Birmingham 15.7 
			 Canada House, Manchester 20.7 
			 National Monuments Record Centre,  
			 Swindon 35.6 
			 Brooklands Ave, Cambridge 12.9 
			 Blandford Street, London 4.6 
			 Unit 5, Exeter 26.5 
			 Queen Square, Bristol 7.6 
			 Derngate, Northampton 18.1 
			 Eastgate Court, Guildford 12.0 
			 Isambard House, Swindon 22.5 
			 Bunhill Row, London 16.5 
			 Bessie Surtees House, Newcastle on Tyne 23.8 
			 Old Sailors Home, Bristol 16.9 
			 Wyndham House, Salisbury 49.7 
			 Waterhouse Square, London 15.5 
			   
			  Sport England  
			 Minerva House, Leeds 18.1 
			 Universal Sq, Manchester 15.6 
			 Durham 21.1 
			 Ashland House, Crewkerne 6.8 
			 Reading 19.7 
			 Victoria House, London 12.9 
			 Bedford 20.6 
			 Birmingham 12.3 
			 Nottingham 21.3

Departmental Expert Groups

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what expert groups his Department set up in each year since 1999.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Details of formal, standing bodies set up by Government to provide independent, expert advice to Departments and Ministers are published annually by the Cabinet Office. These bodies, known as advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), are listed in the annual "Public Bodies" publication. "Public Bodies" also contains some details on short-term advisory groups and task forces. Copies of "Public Bodies" dating back to 1999 can be viewed and downloaded from the following websites:
	1999-2006: <http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies .asp>
	2007: <http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications /3599.aspx>
	2008: <http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications /5125.aspx>
	Copies are also available up to 2007 in the Library for the reference of hon. Members.

Departmental ICT

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the value of his Department's computer systems  (a) was at the time of purchase and  (b) is now.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The accumulated cost of the Department's computer systems (including hardware, network devices, integrated data and telephony cabling, software development and database development) to 30 June 2008 is £11.375 million. The net book value of these assets as at 30 June 2008 is £4.356 million.
	The recording of information technology assets in the Department's accounts is consistent with the Financial Reporting Manual (FreM).

Departmental Pay

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will review salary negotiations for public sector employees in organisations within his Department's responsibility to reflect the rise in the consumer price index to a point above three per cent.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government's pay policy is guided by the following principles. Public sector pay settlements should be consistent with maintaining the necessary levels of recruitment, retention and staff engagement needed to support service delivery; ensuring that total pay bills represent value for money and are affordable within Departments' overall expenditure plans; and consistent with the achievement of the inflation target. Timing of pay decisions for a particular workforce depends on pay setting arrangements for that workforce.

Departmental Public Expenditure

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much his Department spent on  (a) new furnishings,  (b) art and  (c) new vehicles in each of the last three years.

Margaret Hodge: Spending is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  £000 
			   2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Furniture, fixtures and fittings 150 644 651 
			 Artwork 242 262 314 
			 Vehicles — — — 
		
	
	Spending on artwork is predominantly purchases and commissions for the Government Art Collection. These artworks are displayed in British Government buildings both in the United Kingdom and around the world, playing a significant role in promoting British art and culture across diverse and international environments.
	DCMS actively seeks to buy all wood and wood products (including furniture) from legal and sustainable sources. From April 2009, Departments will be required to procure legal and sustainable timber or timber licensed under the EU's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) initiative. The Government also fund a Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET) which provides free advice and guidance to help all public sector buyers and their suppliers meet the policy.

Departmental Vetting

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what percentage of successful applicants for jobs in his Department are subjected to a criminal records check; how many  (a) successful applicants and  (b) criminal records checks there were in each of the last 10 years; how many successful applicants were found to have a criminal record after a criminal records check took place in each of the last 10 years; whether the selection of successful candidates to be subjected to a criminal records check is random or targeted; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport follows the HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard which includes a verification of unspent criminal records. In the last three years the Department for Culture, Media and Sport had 49 successful applicants. All of these were subject to a criminal record check and none were found to have a criminal record. The Defence Vetting Agency currently arranges for a random 20 per cent. check of the successful applicants on our behalf. This will increase to 100 per cent. from 1 October 2008.
	Information for the previous seven years could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.

Departmental Waste

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill in each of the last two years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department introduced a new waste management system into its Cockspur street offices in January 2007. Our main aim was to decrease the amount of waste we sent to landfill and to help our environmental management system gain certification to ISO 14001. Our recycling rate has increased from virtually zero to 60 per cent.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how long on average his Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information on the average number of days taken to answer parliamentary questions is not readily available in the format requested and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library the minutes of each of the meetings of the Emerging Technologies Group since 10 April 2008.

Andy Burnham: There have been no meetings of the Emerging Technologies Group since 10 April 2008, although the minutes of all the previous three meetings have been placed in the Library.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what usability and access standards are required of equipment suppliers to the digital switchover help scheme; and whether one-touch access to audio description is a specific requirement.

Andy Burnham: Usability and access standards for help scheme equipment are set out in the Core Receiver Requirements (CRR). I am arranging for copies of the CRR to be placed in the House Libraries. Audio description is a requirement of the CRR, however one-touch access is not.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what arrangements he requires the digital switchover help scheme contractor to have in place regarding disability equality impact assessments of decisions on the selection of help scheme equipment providers.

Andy Burnham: The choice of equipment is a matter for DSHS Ltd., the subsidiary set up by the BBC to administer the digital switchover help scheme.
	Under the digital switchover help scheme agreement between the DCMS and the BBC, any equipment offered under the scheme must in general be suitable for a disabled person to use. Where the default option offered to eligible households is a digital terrestrial set top box, the equipment must meet the core receiver requirements of the scheme. If the default option is not a digital terrestrial set top box, the equipment must meet the core receiver requirements of the scheme as far as possible.

Digital Switchover Help Scheme

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether digital television equipment providing talking menus and a talking programme guide will be available to disabled persons in Wales via the digital switchover help scheme from 2009 onwards.

Andy Burnham: The equipment provided by the digital switchover help scheme so far has not included a talking Electronic Programme Guide (EPG).
	Recent trials of a talking Electronic Programme Guide developed by the Royal National Institute of the Blind appear promising, and will be kept under consideration by my department in relation to the scheme.

English Sports Council: Expenditure

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many projects targeting rural areas have received funding from Sport England's Community Projects Revenue Fund since 1999.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England has advised that it does not distinguish between urban and rural areas in awarding and recording grants.

Office of Communications: Marketing

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how regularly Ofcom conducts public awareness campaigns regarding its regulatory role and powers; and what Ofcom's budget is for the next three years.

Andy Burnham: The matter raised is the responsibility of the Office of Communications (Ofcom) as independent regulator. Accordingly, my officials have asked the chief executive of Ofcom to respond directly to my hon. Friend. Copies of the chief executive's letter will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Olympic Games: China

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the UK is sending a pistol team to the Beijing Olympics; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Six shooters have been selected by the British Olympic Association to represent Team GB at the Beijing Olympics, one of whom will be competing in the 10 m air pistol event.

Piers: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport by what process funds are made available to assist Bournemouth in offering free entry to its pier.

Margaret Hodge: My Department has made available a funding package of 45 million over three years to help catalyse the regeneration of seaside resorts in England through cultural and heritage projects.
	This is a capital funding programme. Bournemouth could, therefore, apply for funding from the Sea Change Programme to renovate the pier, but any revenue proposals, including offering free entry to the pier, would be a matter for the council.

Sport: Community Development

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent by Sport England through the Community Projects Revenue Fund in each year since 1999.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England have advised that the Community Projects Revenue Fund is a generic term for a series of funding streams including Sports Action Zones and Priority Area Initiatives, and not a single funding stream for which such information is centrally held. It is not therefore possible to provide figures for how much was spent through the Community Projects Revenue Fund in each year since 1999. As such, this information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sports: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of Sport England's Community Projects Revenue Fund has been spent in areas of deprivation since 1999.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England have advised that the Community Projects Revenue Fund is a generic term for a series of funding streams including Sports Action Zones and Priority Area Initiatives, and not a single funding stream for which such information is centrally held. Since 1997 Sport England have funded a number of community initiatives designed to help combat low levels of participation in sport in communities that experience the effects of poverty and deprivation. However, Sport England does not record the award or amount of grants according to whether or not projects fall within areas of deprivation, as defined by Government Indices of Deprivation.

Sports: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much was spent on sports action zones through Sport England's  (a) Community Projects Capital Fund,  (b) Community Investment Fund and  (c) community sports networks in each year since 1999.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Funding for the Sport Action Zone (SAZ) programme came through a wide range of sporting and non-sporting funding streams. Figures have been provided for total Sport England funding for SAZs in each year since 1999, but this information is not centrally held according to the categories of Community Projects Capital Fund, Community Investment Fund and Community Sports Networks.
	
		
			  Financial year  Total Sport England funding for SAZs () 
			 2000-01 2,595,330 
			 2001-02 411,651 
			 2002-03 3,457,311 
			 2003-04 1,097,233 
			 2004-05 187,712 
			 2005-06 272,853 
			 2006-07 2,595,330

Sports: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how much and what proportion of Sport England's Community Projects Fund was spent on administration in each year since 1999.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England have advised that the Community Projects Fund is a generic term for a series of funding streams including Sports Action Zones and Priority Area Initiatives, and not a single funding stream for which such information is centrally held. It is not therefore possible to provide figures for the proportion of Community Projects Fund that was spent on administration in each year since 1999.
	However, detailed information on the yearly operating costs of Sport England can be found in their annual reports, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. Annual reports from 2000-01 onwards are also available at the following address:
	http://www.sportengland.org/annualreport.htm

Sports: Finance

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what proportion of Sport England's Community Projects Fund has been spent in areas of deprivation since 1999.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Sport England have advised that the Community Projects Fund is a generic term for a series of funding streams including Sports Action Zones and Priority Area Initiatives, and not a single funding stream for which such information is centrally held. Since 1997 Sport England have funded a number of community initiatives designed to help combat low levels of participation in sport in communities that experience the effects of poverty and deprivation. However, Sport England do not record the award or amount of grants according to whether or not projects fall within areas of deprivation, as defined by Government Indices of Deprivation.

Sports: Finance

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department provided to  (a) amateur sports clubs and  (b) sport in schools in (i) Enfield North constituency and (ii) London in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Departmental and lottery funding to promote and invest in grassroots and community sport is allocated via Sport England. Sport England has advised that in each year since 1997 funding in Enfield North for  (a) amateur sports clubs and  (b) sport in schools was as follows:
	
		
			   
			  Financial year  Amateur sports clubs  Sport in schools 
			 1997-98 0 0 
			 1998-99 0 0 
			 1999-2000 0 0 
			 2000-01 0 0 
			 2001-02 0 784,418 
			 2002-03 0 10,000 
			 2003-04 0 0 
			 2004-05 9,009 0 
			 2005-06 31,436 0 
			 2006-07 552,555 0 
		
	
	However, Sport England have advised that the only way to provide a similar breakdown (amateur clubs and school sports) for the whole of London would be to manually gather the information from the thousands of grants which have been awarded during the period. This could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sports: Handguns

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment he has made of the compliance of the UK with the Olympic Charter with regard to pistol practice; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Olympic Charter is a constitutional document of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and it sets out the governing principles and rules of the IOC. Neither the UK, nor any other country is a signatory or party to it. Its terms bind national Olympic committees and the other parties to the Host City Contract to organise the games in a manner consistent with the charter. The UK Government have given written guarantees to respect and, where appropriate, abide by the charter in the context of the 2012 games.

Sports: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding his Department has provided to  (a) amateur sports clubs and  (b) sport in schools in Tamworth constituency in each year since 1997.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Departmental and Lottery funding to promote and invest in grassroots and community sport is allocated via Sport England. Sport England has advised that one within the Tamworth constituency was awarded Lottery funding of 403,780 on 17 November 1997. The award was made to Tamworth borough council for the development of the Anker Valley Sports Ground.
	In addition, three projects in the Tamworth area have received awards totalling 30,000 for sport projects from the Awards for All scheme. The following table sets out details.
	
		
			  Awards For All 
			   Awarded to:  Project  A mount () 
			 June 2007 Queen Elizabeth's Mercian School A project to refurbish the school's swimming pool. 10,000 
			 December 2006 Tamworth Olympic Gymnastics Club A project to buy safety equipment. 10,000 
			 November 2006 Tamworth Amateur Boxing Club A project to extend the clubs facilities and purchase new equipment. 10,000 
			 Total   30,000

Television: Advertising

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what the regulatory framework is affecting product placements in television broadcasts; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what his policy is on implementation of European Commission proposals on product placement on UK television; and if he will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: Product placement has been prohibited in UK commercial broadcasting since it began. It is currently prohibited by section 10.5 of Ofcom's broadcasting code, which gives effect to the present European directive.
	Ofcom's code exempts from this prohibition references to products which have been acquired at no cost, or less than their full cost, where their inclusion is justified editorially. It also exempts product placement in cinema films and in programmes acquired from outside the UK, so long as the broadcaster has not directly benefited from the product placement.
	However, no undue prominence may be given in a programme to a product or service.
	The EU Audiovisual Media Services Directive, adopted in December 2007, requires member states to impose an overall ban on product placement in television and video-on-demand services. But it allows member states to permit it, if they wish, in 'cinematographic works, films and series, sports programmes and light, entertainment programmes', subject to certain conditions.
	My Department will shortly be consulting on product placement as part of its overall consultation on implementing this directive in the United Kingdom. As I have made clear, my instinctive view is that product placement would reduce public trust in broadcasters. There would be a danger that commercial marketing interests could exert an inappropriate influence over editorial decisions. The line between advertising and programmes, the 'separation principle', could become blurred.
	The DCMS consultation will last for at least 12 weeks and will provide the chance for those on both sides of the argument to put forward their views and evidence. At the end of the consultation process, the Government will make a judgement based upon those views and evidence.
	The UK and other member states must implement the directive by 19 December 2009.

Tourism

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent estimate he has made of the number of UK residents taking  (a) day trips,  (b) short breaks and  (c) holidays in the UK in each year since 1997.

Margaret Hodge: Regular surveys of day trips by UK residents are not undertaken. However we have data from two surveys completed in the last 10 years. The Leisure Day Visits Survey's estimate for the total number of British adults that had taken a tourism day trip in Great Britain was just under 1.3 billion in 1998 and just under 1.1 billion in 2002-03. People living in England accounted for 87 per cent. (934 million) of those tourism day trips taken in 2002-03.
	In 2005, there were an estimated 870 million Tourism Day Visits taken by English residents within England. The 1998 and 2002-03 surveys were funded by a consortium including DCMS. The 2005 survey was led by Natural England but funded collectively by 12 different agencies including DEFRA and the Environment Agency.
	The number of domestic short breaks taken in the UK is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Domestic 'short holiday trips' (one to three nights) in the UK 
			   Number (million) 
			 1997 37.4 
			 1999 41.3 
			 2001(1) 67.2 
			 2001 63.8 
			 2002 64.5 
			 2003 57.3 
			 2004 46.9 
			 2005(1) 56.3 
			 2006 52.1 
			 (1) The methodology for the UKTS changed in both 2000 and in 2005 meaning that comparisons with previous years should be treated with caution.  Note: Figures for 1998 are not available.  Source: UK Tourism Survey (National Tourist Boards) 
		
	
	The number of domestic holidays taken in the UK is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Domestic  h oliday trips in the UK 
			   Number (million) 
			 1997 70.8 
			 1999 75.3 
			 2000(1) 106.0 
			 2001 101.2 
			 2002 101.7 
			 2003 91.0 
			 2004 75.5 
			 2005(1) 86.6 
			 2006 79.2 
			 (1) The methodology for the UKTS changed in 2005 meaning that comparisons with previous years should be treated with caution.  Note: Figures for 1998 are not available.  Source: UK Tourism Survey (National Tourist Boards)

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Aerials: Planning Permission

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will take steps to encourage mobile phone operators to share masts through the planning process.

Iain Wright: Planning Policy Guidance Note 8: Telecommunications outlines the Government's policy of facilitating the growth of new and existing telecommunication systems while keeping the environmental impact to a minimum.
	Our guidance makes clear that we attach considerable importance to keeping the number of radio and telecommunications masts to the minimum consistent with the efficient operation of the network.
	The sharing of masts and sites is, therefore, strongly encouraged where that represents the optimum environmental solution to a particular case.
	Our guidance should be taken into account by local planning authorities as they prepare their plans for their area, and may be material to decisions on individual applications for planning permission, prior approval or appeals.

Allotments: Waiting Lists

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether she has had recent discussions with those local authorities which have a waiting list for allotments on their provision of allotments.

Iain Wright: The Secretary of State has not had recent discussions with local authorities about waiting lists for allotments.
	The provision of allotments is the responsibility of local authorities. Section 23 of the Small Holdings and Allotments Act 1908 places a duty on local authorities (except for inner London boroughs) to provide allotments where they perceive a demand for them in their area.

Council Housing: Greater London

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average change in  (a) rent and  (b) service charges for council tenants in each London borough was in each of the last five years for which figures are available, expressed in (i) cash and (ii) percentage terms; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The table has been deposited in the Library of the House showing per week figures for actual rents and service charges which indicate the cash and percentage increases for the years 2003-04 to 2007-08 for each London borough. These figures are as reported to Communities and Local Government for those years. Comparable per week service charge figures are not available for the years prior to 2003-04.
	Setting service charges is a matter for local authorities themselves. They have been encouraged to identify service charges separately from rents, based on the actual cost of services to individual properties, which helps tenants to assess the reasonableness of the charges. The figures in the table reflect this 'depooling'. Service charges are not eligible for HRA subsidy and as such data are not collected on the pre-audit subsidy forms. Audited data for 2007-08 are not yet available.

Eco-towns: Parking

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether there is a maximum number of residential car parking spaces per dwelling allowed in eco-town developments.

Caroline Flint: We will be setting out our approach on transport and other criteria in the draft planning policy statement on eco-towns which we expect to publish for consultation shortly. The Town and Country Planning Association have also produced a best practice worksheet the transport, which is available to all those taking eco-towns forward, and provides advice and examples of good practice about managing transport within the eco-town, including parking.
	Local authorities will also want to take account of PPS 3: Housing which encourages a design-led approach to the provision of car-parking space, to ensure that it is well-integrated with a high quality public realm and streets that are pedestrian, cycle and vehicle friendly.

Eco-towns: Public Participation

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received on the appropriateness of the consultation process for the eco-town programme.

Caroline Flint: We have received a range of representations during the consultation process and will issue our response to the consultation in due course.
	There will be further opportunities for consultation and input as part of the second stage of the consultation process. As well as encouraging bidders to extend their consultation process, we are commissioning exhibition and consultation events about the eco-towns concept, the purpose of eco-towns, and a national programme going forward, including information about potential locations. In addition, we expect to publish in Julyfor further consultationa draft Sustainability Appraisal on the locations and a draft planning policy statement which will set out more detail for each location.
	Only after this second stage of consultation will we decide which sites have potential and which schemes we will support as they go forward into the local planning process, where they will undergo further testing and consultation.

Floods: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent representations Essex county council has made to her on the Environment Agency's flood risk assessments and their effect on development in  (a) Canvey Island and  (b) Essex.

Caroline Flint: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 11 June 2008,  Official Report, column 281W. We have received no further representations from Essex county council on the Environment Agency's flood risk assessments and their impact on development in Canvey Island and Essex.

Home Information Packs

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of local searches being duplicated by the buyer and seller as a consequence of the introduction of home information packs.

Caroline Flint: Nonegiven the confidential relationship between solicitors and their clients it is not currently possible to accurately obtain data on this issue.

Homelessness

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of homeless applications to local authorities in each region in  (a) 2008-09,  (b) 2009-10 and  (c) 2010-11.

Iain Wright: Information about English local authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level. This includes data on the number of decisions on applications for housing assistance taken under the homelessness provisions of the 1996 Housing Act. No estimate has been made of future homelessness applications.
	Data on decisions on applications between 1997-98 and 2007-08 are provided in our quarterly statistical release on Statutory Homelessness. This is published on our website and placed in the Library each quarter. The latest release was published on 12 June 2008.

Housing: Finance

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the net financial contribution in relation to the housing revenue accounts subsidy scheme was in  (a) nominal,  (b) real and  (c) per capita terms (i) for the Royal Borough of Kingston, (ii) for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, (iii) on average for all London boroughs, (iv) for Manchester City Council, (v) for Nottingham City Council and (vi) on average for all local housing authorities in England in each of the last 10 years; and what forecasts she has made for the equivalent figures in the next 10 years.

Iain Wright: The housing revenue account subsidy system involves calculations based on a notional housing revenue account. The amount of subsidy for each local authority is calculated as the difference between the expenditure which the local authority is assumed to incur and the income it is assumed to receive. We do not have a suitable basis for deflating the figures to real terms.
	Housing revenue account subsidy in its current form has been paid out since 2004-05. Prior to 2004-05, central Government subsidy included rent rebates for housing benefits which are no longer a part of housing revenue account subsidy. The following table shows the subsidy position for Kingston upon Thames, the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, Manchester and Nottingham city councils, the average for all London boroughs, and the average for all local authorities in England from 2004-05 to 2007-08. These are un-audited figures provided by the local authorities.
	
		
			   million 
			   2004 - 05  2005 - 06  2006 - 07  2007 - 08 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 8,280,067 8,941,923 8,743,629 8,011,369 
			 Kingston upon Thames -3,974,577 -4,212,167 -4,936,952 -5,606,053 
			 Manchester City Council 41,741,062 50,544,980 43,351,412 35,947,850 
			 Nottingham City Council 6,731,470 8,564,023 9,810,385 9,031,153 
			 LB average 24,992,563 23,567,611 21,602,984 18,993,060 
			 England average 5,832,117 7,726,439 7,165,854 6,331,305 
		
	
	Communities and Local Government does not have information on forecasts of housing revenue account subsidy across individual local authorities. The forecast of subsidy in each of the next 10 years would require the projection of dwelling stock totals, and interest rate predictions, to 2018-19. These can be provided only by the individual local authorities.

Housing: Local Government Finance

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1264W, on housing: local government finance, if she will place in the Library a copy of the equivalent figures for 2007-08.

Iain Wright: holding answer 24 June 2008
	A table showing the preliminary outturn figures for authorities' housing revenue account subsidy entitlement has been deposited in the Library of the House. The data supplied are subject to audit, which is not due to complete until 31 December 2008.

Housing: Local Government Finance

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the Answer of 3 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1264W, on housing: local government finance, how much was  (a) transferred by local housing authorities into the housing revenue account and  (b) redistributed to local housing authorities by the housing revenue account in the last year for which figures are available.

Iain Wright: holding answer 24 June 2008
	The total assumed housing revenue account subsidy surpluses for 2007-08 captured for redistribution in England were -615,402,131. Total assumed deficits for the same period were 670,123,974, requiring an Exchequer contribution of 54,721,843 to make up the shortfall.
	These figures are subject to audit.

Housing: Prices

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the data sources are for her Department's house price index.

Iain Wright: The Department's monthly house price index is a weighted average of prices for a standard mix of dwellings. The dwelling prices data used in the calculation of weighted average prices are from mortgage completions data taken from the Regulated Mortgage Survey (RMS), carried out by the Council of Mortgage Lenders and BankSearch.
	The index is mix-adjusted to allow for the fact that different dwelling types are sold in different periods. The mix-adjusted index is calculated using a model that uses, in addition to the RMS, classification data from the ONS which clusters local authorities together, a neighbourhood classification from CACI Ltd. known as the ACORN classification and transaction data from HM Land Registry.

Housing: Standards

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations she has received on the repair costs borne by leaseholders as a consequence of the Decent Homes Initiative; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Government have received representations on this subject from stakeholders including individual local authority leaseholders and hon. Members. Ministers have also met hon. Members who have expressed particular interest in this subject.
	The Government have reviewed the issues arising from high major works charges and announced their conclusions in a written statement to Parliament on 29 March 2007,  Official Report, column 118WS; on the Parliament website at:
	http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070329/wmstext/70329m0001.htm #07032949000022
	This said that the Government would make it clear to local authorities that they should:
	inform and advise all leaseholders who face particularly large bills about the best available payment options, and work with lenders and independent financial advisers, landlords and leaseholder representatives to focus on the best ways of tackling these issues. Meetings on this have subsequently been held with a number of local authority and arms-length management organisation landlords
	use existing resources, such as for private sector renewal which they are already expected to target towards those in need and on low incomes, to assist leaseholders in hardship. The Greater London Authority has included help for leaseholders among the criteria for regional housing pot bids from London boroughs.
	In addition, more resources have been made available to the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) so that it can encourage more dialogue between landlords and leaseholders on service charge and management issues and also encourage them to use its services to discuss issues, establish available options, and where necessary resolve disputed issues. The Government have also fulfilled their commitment to legislate by including in the Housing and Regeneration Bill, which is currently completing its passage through Parliament, powers for local authorities to offer interest-free equity loans and to buy equity shares in properties.

Housing: Standards

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what her most recent estimate is of the average Standard Assessment Procedure rating of  (a) council housing,  (b) housing owned by registered social landlords,  (c) private rented housing and  (d) owner-occupied housing in (i) Birmingham, (ii) West Midlands and (iii) England.

Iain Wright: The following table provides the average energy efficiency ('SAP') rating in the West Midlands and England for each housing tenure, using estimates from the 2006 English House Condition Survey. The survey cannot provide estimates for areas smaller than regions.
	
		
			  Energy  e fficiency (SAP) rating by housing tenure for West Midlands and England, 2006 
			  Tenure:  West Midlands  England 
			 Owner occupied 44 47 
			 Private rented 44 47 
			 Local authority 54 56 
			 Registered social landlord 59 59 
			 All sectors 47 49 
			  Note:  Estimates based on SAP 2005 methodology for energy efficiency rating.  Source:  English House Condition Survey

Owner Occupation

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether her Department holds information on the age profile of home owners.

Iain Wright: Data on the age profile of owner occupiers are included in a table published on the departmental website. Table S106 contains the age profile of all householders by tenure for each of the years 1999 to 2006 and is derived from the Labour Force Survey, an Office for National Statistics survey. The table can be found at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/139277.xls

Party Wall etc. Act 1996

Jacqui Lait: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans she has to bring forward legislative proposals to amend the Party Wall etc. Act 1996 to increase the efficiency with which its provisions can be enforced.

Iain Wright: There are no current plans to make legislative amendments to The Party Wall etc. Act 1996. The Department is, however, currently revising The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 Explanatory Booklet to improve the guidance for professionals and building owners in this and other respects.

Property Development: Green Belt

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many dwellings were built on green belt land in 2006; and how many hectares of green belt were developed in 2006.

Iain Wright: There is a general presumption against inappropriate development in the green belt. Such development should not be approved, except in very special circumstances. In 2006, an estimated 2,800 dwellings were built within the 2007 designated green belt. This is around 1.7 per cent. of the total number of dwellings built in England in 2006.
	There were 1,635,000 hectares of green belt in England in 2007. Figures are not yet available for the amount of green belt developed in 2006.

Regional Spatial Strategies: Eco-towns

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether eco-towns will count towards a local authority's building targets as set out in regional spatial strategies.

Caroline Flint: As we have set out in the consultation document, Eco-townsLiving a greener future, at Annex A, paragraph 6 we are expecting eco-towns to contribute significantly to meet revised targets in the emerging regional spatial strategies and have assured local authorities which include an eco-town in their future housing plans that it will count towards current and future housing targets, which in many cases are likely to be more stretching.

Regional Spatial Strategies: Green Belt

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities are being instructed to undertake green belt reviews as a consequence of the provisions of each regional spatial strategy.

Iain Wright: No local planning authorities have been instructed to undertake green belt reviews. The Government's policy on green belts is set out in planning policy guidance note 2 (PPG2). Green belts have performed an important role in preventing urban sprawl and protecting the countryside for 50 years. It continues to be a matter for local authorities and regional assemblies to look at how the green belt best protects the countryside and guards against inappropriate development.

Regional Spatial Strategies: West Midlands

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the meaning is of the phrase adjustment of green belt boundaries, as referred to in the West Midlands Regional Spatial Strategy Phase Two Revision.

Iain Wright: The reference to adjustment of green belt boundaries is unchanged from the published RSS but the draft phase two revision expands on the circumstances where adjustment might be made. This wording represents the West Midlands regional assembly's proposals which will be subject to an examination in public next spring.

Social Rented Housing: Sales

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many properties have been disposed of by registered social landlords in each year since 1999-2000.

Iain Wright: The following table shows the number of properties disposed of by RSLs in each year since 1999-2000. The figures are taken from the annual Regulatory Statistical Return showing right to buy (RTB), right to acquire (RTA), Voluntary Purchase Grant (VPG) and later, Social HomeBuy (from 2006) (SHB), disposals to other RSLs, disposals to the private sector (for example property built for outright sale, market rented property, former social housing sold at auction or on the open market) and other disposals (for example local authorities, health authorities and organisations like English Partnerships).
	
		
			  Number of properties disposed of by RSLs since 1999-2000 
			   1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 RTB 7,245 7,098 8,224 10,473 14,525 8,665 6,356 4,835 
			 RTA 4 18 38 111 236 435 471 570 
			 VPG and SHB 86 140 133 142 154 132 78 47 
			 To other RSLs  1,130 2,872 1,635 
			 To private sector  3,157 3,081 3,257 
			 Other disposals  2,399 1,207 1,235 
			 Total 7,335 7,256 8,395 10,726 14,915 15,918 14,065 11,579 
			  Notes:  1. Data for disposals to other RSLs, to the private sector and other non-social housing before the years 2004-05 was collected in a different form and is not comparable. Therefore they have been omitted.  2. As part of reducing the regulatory burden RSLs in the size range 250 to 999 units were exempted from the return in 2006-07 with regards to disposals to other RSLs, to the private sector and other non-social housing (previously this threshold was less than 250 units).  3. Some of these units may not have been in social housing use at the time of the disposal.  4. Data for 2007-08 is not yet available.

Temporary Accommodation: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of out-of-borough temporary accommodation placements made by each London local authority in each of the last five years.

Iain Wright: Information about English local authorities' actions under the homelessness legislation is collected quarterly at local authority level.
	Information collected includes the number of households accepted by local housing authorities as eligible for assistance, unintentionally homeless and in priority need, and therefore owed a main homelessness duty (to secure that suitable accommodation is available). If a settled home is not immediately available, the authority must secure temporary accommodation until a settled home becomes available.
	Information on the numbers of households being housed in various types of temporary accommodation (TA) is reported quarterly by local authorities as at the last day of each quarter. The figures include: those households who have been accepted as owed the main homelessness duty; those for which inquiries are pending; those being accommodated for a limited period because they have been found intentionally homeless and in priority need; those being accommodated pending possible referral to another authority, and those being accommodated pending the outcome of a local authority review or county court appeal.
	The following table shows the number of households in temporary accommodation by each London borough as at 31 March, and those of which were housed in another local authority district, from 2003-04 to 2007-08:
	
		
			   2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			   No.  in TA  Of which: i n another LA district  No.  in TA  Of which: i n another LA district  No.  in TA  Of which: i n another LA district  No.  in TA  Of which: i n another LA district  No.  in TA  Of which: i n another LA district 
			 Barking and Dagenham 790 20 470 0 560 0 790 0 700 0 
			 Barnet 1,960 250 2,330 190 2,410 80 2,540 100 2,490 170 
			 Bexley 320 120 380 120 420 120 400 100 300 70 
			 Brent 4,210 230 4,450 490 4,310 420 4,120 400 3,910 390 
			 Bromley 720 110 450 (1) 1,000 60 800 (1) 720 70 
			 Camden 2,170 760 2,170 120 1,930 670 1,640 570 1,440 530 
			 City of London 30 0 30 30 20 20 30 30 20 20 
			 Croydon 3,550 10 3,350 0 2,620 0 2,080 (1) 1,790 0 
			 Ealing 2,010 60 2,220 (1) 2,270 50 2,080 50 1,990 40 
			 Enfield 2,960 50 (1) (1) 3,290 20 3,280 70 3,200 0 
			 Greenwich 380 60 540 120 860 140 650 120 440 120 
			 Hackney 2,270 120 2,480 (1) 2,310 (1) 2,010 0 1,900 20 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,780 490 1,830 460 1,670 540 1,510 420 1,200 670 
			 Haringey 4,770 0 5,310 (1) 5,700 (1) 5,860 (1) 5,390 (1) 
			 Harrow 1,460 0 1,280 0 1,160 0 1,090 10 1,060 40 
			 Havering 820 0 810 0 (1) (1) 580 0 640 0 
			 Hillingdon 1,870 0 1,880 10 1,650 0 1,480 0 1,360 0 
			 Hounslow 1,130 100 1,230 220 1,300 180 1,230 100 1,120 90 
			 Islington 1,440 320 1,550 520 1,520 400 1,240 460 1,010 330 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 970 470 1,200 540 1,120 520 950 (1) 920 700 
			 Kingston upon Thames 840 70 (1) (1) 770 (1) 810 (1) 780 (1) 
			 Lambeth 1,850 530 2,380 510 2,410 300 2,450 480 2,120 480 
			 Lewisham 1,640 30 1,850 0 2,280 0 2,560 0 2,500 80 
			 Merton 170 10 160 10 140 0 120 0 110 10 
			 Newham 5,160 1,710 5,820 2,200 6,110 2,690 6,040 2,230 5,600 2,120 
			 Redbridge 2,430 (1) (1) (1) 2,760 0 2,770 60 2,740 100 
			 Richmond upon Thames 530 170 460 180 400 40 320 80 280 80 
			 Southwark 930 80 970 40 1,150 80 1,280 70 1,160 70 
			 Sutton 540 40 640 30 550 30 480 20 410 40 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,900 1,380 2,950 750 2,650 520 2,540 520 (1) (1) 
			 Waltham Forest 1,670 110 1,810 170 1,960 190 1,930 160 1,920 280 
			 Wandsworth 1,640 190 1,590 110 1,360 120 1,160 90 940 90 
			 Westminster 2,940 1,310 3,150 1,480 3,110 900 3,010 1,410 2,870 (1) 
			 (1) Denotes data not reported.  Source:  CLG P1E data

Temporary Accommodation: Greater London

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many households have been placed in temporary accommodation in each London local authority area by another London local authority in each of the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: Data collected on temporary accommodation include the number of households placed in temporary accommodation by each London local authority at the end of each quarter, and which of these were housed in a different local authority district. However, information on which local authority area these households were housed in is not held centrally.
	A table showing the number of households placed in temporary accommodation (TA) by each London local authority as at 31 March, and those of which were housed in another local authority district, has been provided today in answer to my hon. Friend's question (214327).

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Foreign Companies

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what percentage of contracts awarded to companies for the 2012 London Olympic Games has been awarded to foreign companies.

Tessa Jowell: As of May 2008, the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has awarded over 650 contracts and 2 per cent. are from international companies.
	As a public body, the ODA is fully committed to ensuring competitive tendering for contracts in compliance with UK and EU procurement law.
	The ODA's Procurement Policy, launched in March 2007, states it will:
	Encourage competition, locally, nationally and internationally through actively promoting tendering opportunities, to promote as wide and as vigorous a competition as can be achieved.

Olympic Games 2012: Tourism

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent assessment she has made of the likely effects of the 2012 Olympics on tourism.

Tessa Jowell: The DCMS tourism strategy, Winning: A tourism strategy for 2012 and beyond includes the estimate there could be a 2.1 billion boost in tourism revenues as a result of the 2012 games. This is the central estimate of the additional revenues for the UK arising from the games, and is taken from a study commissioned jointly by VisitBritain and Visit London.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Leader of the House how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of her Office in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Helen Goodman: No domestic air flights were undertaken during the financial year 2007-08 (the most recent year for which figures are available).

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Leader of the House how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in her Office in each of the last 10 years.

Harriet Harman: This information is available only at disproportionate cost, due to a machinery of government change.
	Special advisers are appointed under terms and conditions set out in the Model Contract and Code of Conduct for Special Advisers, copies of which are in the Library of the House. Like all civil servants, special advisers are entitled to claim expenses.

Departmental Press Subscriptions

Mark Hoban: To ask the Leader of the House how much was spent by her Office on subscriptions for magazines, newspapers and other publications in each of the last 24 months.

Harriet Harman: Following a machinery of government change, information prior to 2006-07 is available only at disproportionate cost.
	My Office spent 14,849.18 on subscriptions and publications including newspapers in 2006-07. However, the number of newspapers and subscriptions are kept under constant review to ensure value for money including the non-delivery of newspapers and magazines during a recess or when a Minister is not in the office.
	Details of any payments in 2007-08 will only be available when the Department's resource accounts are fully audited and laid before Parliament. This is expected to be before the 2008 summer recess.

Departmental Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Leader of the House how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff in her Office in the last 24 months.

Helen Goodman: From June 2006 to present, one departmental pass has been reported lost.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Leader of the House to what premium Sky, digital terrestrial or cable television channels her Office subscribes; and at what yearly cost in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Helen Goodman: This service is provided centrally to the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons by the Cabinet Office. The total cost for the whole of the Cabinet Office in the 2007-08 financial year was 5,589.

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Leader of the House how long on average her Office took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Helen Goodman: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			   Named day questions answered on the specified day  Ordinary written questions answered within five working days  
			  Session  Percentage  Number  Percentage  Number  Average number of sitting day s  to answer ordinary written questions 
			 2004-05 100 14 of 14 97 38 of 39 2.9 
			 2005-06 100 72 of 72 100 189 of 189 2.8 
			 2006-07 100 40 of 40 99 163 of 165 2.7 
			 Current Session 100 26 of 26 98 122 of 124 3 
		
	
	This information is available on our website at:
	www.commonsleader.gov.uk

Government Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Leader of the House how many staff in her Office  (a) are classified as Government communicators and  (b) have access to the Government Communication Network.

Harriet Harman: Press Office services are provided by the Cabinet Office Communication Group.
	Any civil servant who works in a communication role can register online as an individual to gain access to GCN and the resources it provides through its website.

PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMISSION

National Audit Office: Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how many individual domestic air flights were undertaken within Great Britain by representatives of the National Audit Office in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Alan Williams: The National Audit Office informs me that in 2007-08 National Audit Office staff made 165 return and 85 single air trips on official business within Great Britain, making a total of 415 individual domestic flights. 411 were economy flights, which are selected unless a more flexible option is required for business purposes, and the total cost of all domestic flights was 30,452.

National Audit Office: Manpower

Francis Maude: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how many permanent staff within the National Audit Office are classed as  (a) staff without posts and  (b) part of a people action team.

Alan Williams: The National Audit Office informs me that there are currently no employees within the National Audit Office who are classed as staff without posts, and there are no staff in a people action team.

National Audit Office:  Morning Star

Francis Maude: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how many copies of the  Morning Star publication the National Audit Office subscribes to each week; and at what cost.

Alan Williams: The National Audit Office informs me that it does not subscribe to the  Morning Star.

National Audit Office: Security

Francis Maude: To ask the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission how many departmental identity cards or departmental passes have been reported lost or stolen by staff of the National Audit Office in the last 24 months.

Alan Williams: The National Audit Office informs me that over the period 28 June 2006 to 27 June 2008, 62 National Audit Office passes have been reported as lost or stolen. Pass holders are required to report losses to the police and passes are deactivated immediately on receipt of a police report.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Agriculture: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his Department's policy is on the adoption of different measures to manage  (a) biosecurity and  (b) biosafety threats.

Jonathan R Shaw: The terms biosecurity and biosafety are used differently in different contexts. Farmers are responsible for practising high standards of biosecurity on their premises in order to reduce the risk of disease being introduced on the premises. DEFRA has published biosecurity guidance for farmers on the DEFRA website.
	Using the definitions in the recent Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee Report on Biosecurity in UK Research Laboratories (published 25 June 2008), laboratory biosafety (containment practices to prevent the unintentional exposure or release of pathogens) is the responsibility of the individual facilities and their management as the Callaghan Review of the regulatory framework for handling animal pathogens (published 13 December 2007) made clear. Following the publication of the Callaghan review, responsibility for inspection and enforcement under the Specified Animal Pathogens Order has been transferred from DEFRA to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Biosecurity (protection and control to prevent unauthorised access) policy and advice are provided to laboratories by the HSE and the National Counter Terrorism Security Office.

Agriculture: Subsidies

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assistance the Common Agricultural Policy provides for production of  (a) biofuels and  (b) tobacco; and if he will estimate the hectarage given over to each crop in the EU in the latest year for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: Crops for biofuels may be grown on set-aside land without loss of set-aside payments. Growers may also apply for the EU's Aid for Energy Crops (AEC) scheme for crops planted on non-set-aside land where there is already a contract with an energy end-user. This pays up to 45 per hectare for two million hectares of crops across the whole EU, but is subject to scale back when the number of acres exceeds this limitas, for example, happened in 2007. We understand that this scheme may be abolished as part of the common agricultural policy (CAP) health check.
	It is not possible to estimate accurately the number of hectares given over to crops for biofuels because the AEC can be paid for all energy crops, not just those destined for biofuels, but biomass for heat and electricity as well. Many farmers also choose to sell multi-use crops such as oilseed rape (OSR) on the spot market, where they could equally be used for biofuels or food products for humans or animals. However, the following figures are available on the European Commission's website:
	
		
			  EU arable land with energy crops, by type of support 
			  Million hectares 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006( 1)  2007( 2) 
			  Total non-food land use on set-aside area 0.9 0.5 0.9 1.0 1.0 
			 Oilseeds  0.5 0.7 0.8 0.8 
			 Of which: rapeseed  0.4 0.7 0.8 0.8 
			 Cereals  0.0 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			   
			  Total land use on land with energy crop premium  0.3 0.6 1.3 2.8 
			 Oilseeds  0.2 0.4 0.9 2.0 
			 Of which: rapeseed  0.2 0.4 0.8 2.0 
			 Cereals  0.0 0.1 0.2 0.3 
			   
			  Total land use on land without support( 3) 0.3 0.8 1.6 1.4 0.2 
			 Oilseeds (rapeseed)(4)  0.8 1.3 0.9 0.1 
			 Cereals   0.3 0.4 0.0 
			   
			 Total 1.2 1.6 3.1 3.7 4.0 
			 (1) EU-25 (2) EU-27, estimate (3) Calculated from oilseed and cereals market balances (4) Assumed all rapeseed  Sources: European Commission, DG Agriculture and Rural Development 
		
	
	In 2007 the CAP provided 335.5 million worth of assistance for tobacco production.
	The latest estimates of hectares given over to tobacco production, based on 27 member states' estimated contracts for 2007, is 114,437 hectares.

Agriculture: Subsidies

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much European Union state aid was provided to tobacco producers in the latest period for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: We do not have information on EU member state payments that might be classified as state aid in the tobacco sector. No such payments have been made in the UK, and it is unlikely that state aid is paid elsewhere.
	A production aid, rather than state aid, is however still payable to EU tobacco producers until 2010 when payments linked to production are scheduled to cease altogether. Payments of this aid in 2007 totalled 335.5 million.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will ensure that payment under the replacement scheme for hill farm allowance are  (a) made to and  (b) retained by those who farm the land in question.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 30 June 2008
	As announced in the Secretary of State's written statement on 12 December 2006, we are minded to replace the hill farm allowance (HFA) with an uplands strand to the entry level stewardship scheme. Like other environmental stewardship schemes, payments would be targeted at land managers for the delivery of environmental and landscape benefits. This would require a five-year commitment from the person who has management control of the land, in order to meet EU requirements and to achieve sustainable land management and value for money.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will ensure that payment under the replacement scheme for hill farm allowance made in respect of the use of common land are paid only to those who farm that common land.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 30 June 2008
	As announced in the Secretary of State's written statement on 12 December 2006, we are minded to replace the hill farm allowance (HFA) with an uplands strand to the entry level stewardship scheme. The replacement scheme would need to ensure sound environmental management of common land. We expect that this would be achieved by requiring agreements applying to common land to cover the whole area of the common and to have the support of the large majority of rights-holders. The commons council or association would be responsible for the agreement and would be responsible for compliance. They would also decide how the payments should be distributed. Guidance would be provided to help commons enter into agreements and to advise on the distribution of funds.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with his European counterparts on the continuance of subsidies for European tobacco crops.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 1 July 2008
	Agreement was reached at the Council of Ministers in April 2004 for the successful reform of the EU tobacco regime.
	The reform introduced decoupling into the tobacco sector, which means that the direct link between production and support is broken. This will apply progressively until 2010 when direct support for tobacco production will cease altogether.

Animals: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs for the management of which  (a) endemic and  (b) exotic animal disease threats his Department has developed a specific strategy.

Jonathan R Shaw: The UK Government strategy for enhancing veterinary surveillance was launched in 2003. As part of this, the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, through its national network, investigates, diagnoses, analyses and reports on trends in endemic diseases of farmed animals and wildlife as well as new and emerging conditions.
	In accordance with EU legislation, a process is in place for sequential implementation of UK national salmonella control plans in the poultry and pig sectors.
	The 'Government strategic framework for the sustainable control of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Great Britain' was published in 2005. Through this, the Government aim to work in partnership with interested organisations to bring about a sustainable improvement in control of bovine TB over the next 10 years.
	DEFRA's framework response plan and overview of emergency preparedness, which are reviewed annually, summarise the Government's arrangements for controlling outbreaks of various exotic animal diseases in England. They include an overarching strategy for dealing with a range of diseases, as well as plans for responding to specific diseases including foot and mouth disease, avian influenza, rabies and bluetongue.
	There is a need to prioritise contingency planning work according to risk, and contingency arrangements are published on the DEFRA website, along with detailed information about a wide range of animal diseases.

Animals: Electronic Tagging

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when he was first informed that wing tagging and web tagging procedures may only be carried out by veterinary surgeons; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effect on conservation programmes of veterinary surgeons being the only persons able to carry out wing tagging and web tagging procedures; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  if he will lay an Order before Parliament under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 to permit trained persons who are not veterinary surgeons to carry out wing tagging and web tagging; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: During the consultation on the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008, officials came to the view that, according to the provisions of the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966, wing and web tagging of non-farmed birds could only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon. The Department has not collected any data on the impact of this legal situation on conservation programmes.
	It is the opinion of the Department that non-vets should be permitted to wing and web tag non-farmed birds for certain purposes. We had initially intended to provide for this in the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008. However, it was decided that there would be insufficient legal certainty without a specific Exemption Order under the Veterinary Surgeons Act. Therefore, we are currently working on an Exemption Order to permit non-veterinarians to wing and web tag non-farmed birds. There is already an exemption in the Veterinary Surgeons Act which allows farmed birds to be wing tagged by the farmer or the farmer's employee. It is hoped that this Exemption Order will be in force by November 2008.

Beekeeping: Compensation

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will compensate beekeepers who lose their livelihoods as a result of declining bee populations.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA already provides support to beekeepers by spending 1,300,000 on bee health in England. A further 90,000 of additional funds has been allocated to the National Bee Unit this year to expand investigations into colony losses. DEFRA has no plans to compensate beekeepers for declining bee populations.

Bees: Disease Control

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with the German government on its decision to ban a number of seed treatments suspected to have caused the deaths of beehives; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 17 June 2008,  Official Report, column 797W.
	Further detailed discussions between Pesticides Safety Directorate (PSD) officials and the German authorities have taken place recently. The German authorities gave an update on their situation and confirmed that they had re-instated the approvals of four products for use as seed treatments for oilseed rape. Meanwhile the authorisations for use of four products for use on maize seed remain suspended.
	Investigations by the German authorities have indicated that the cause of the bee deaths was as a result of a combination of factors: poor maize seed treatment without the use of an appropriate sticker to hold the pesticide on the seed; the use of the high dose (62 g active substance per 50,000 seeds) for control of western corn rootworm in a period of high infestation; the use of poorly maintained pneumatic seed drills which allowed the release of dust laden with the pesticide; and the timing of drilling which coincided with the flowering period of neighbouring oilseed rape crops. The authorities are continuing their investigations to re-assess the four products and if appropriate to modify the corresponding authorisations.
	Officials at PSD and the Central Science Laboratory are closely monitoring the situation in the UK and will of course act immediately should there be confirmed evidence of a problem in bee colonies in the UK.

Bees: Disease Control

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what reports he has received on seed treatment products in use in the UK which are suspected to have a negative impact on bee health; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what consideration he has given to prohibiting the use of seed treatment products linked to beehive deaths; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: As a means of post-approval monitoring of any harm caused by pesticides, the UK Wildlife Incident Investigation Scheme (WIIS) investigates incidents of death or damage to pets and wildlife (including honey and bumble bees) where there is evidence of an association with pesticide use. Data from the WIIS actually show a reduction in recent years in the number of bee incidents directly attributable to the use of pesticides. The few that are reported tend to be linked to the misuse or abuse of certain pesticides rather than their approved use and these cases can result in enforcement action. Since May 2008, there have been four cases (two which are related) involving bees reported to the WIIS, and these are under investigation. There have not been any incidents reported to date which could be connected to the use of seed treatments. DEFRA will, of course, act immediately on any concrete evidence from incidents which occur in the UK.

Bluetongue Disease

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many imported cattle developed bluetongue disease in each of the last three years.

Jonathan R Shaw: There are strict, risk based rules for intra-community trade in bluetongue susceptible animals. In addition we routinely test ruminants imported from continental Europe, and we traced and tested animals imported during the risk period in 2006 when BTV8 was present but undetected.
	As a result we found the following numbers of cattle with test results suggesting the presence of BTV8 virus:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2006 0 
			 2007 22 
			 2008 (1)5 
			 (1 )To date. 
		
	
	None of them were reported as showing clinical signs of disease but undetected infection is common in cattle. All animals believed to present a risk were culled and there is no evidence of spread of disease from any of these incidents.

Bluetongue: Disease Control

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he plans to extend the bluetongue protection zone to Cumbria.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 30 June 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 17 June 2008,  Official Report, column 797W.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of cattle herd tuberculosis breakdowns accounted for by cattle-to-cattle transmission.

Jonathan R Shaw: It is often very difficult to conclusively determine the precise cause of a TB breakdown in a cattle herd.
	However, in low bovine TB incidence areas, there is evidence that cattle-to-cattle transmission could be responsible for around 80 per cent. or more of cases. However, the situation is quite different in the high incidence areas of the country where 85-90 per cent. of all confirmed breakdowns occur. Some herds in these areas are also infected by purchased cattle, but wildlife is a major source of new herd infection and in many counties wildlife may be a more important source than cattle. It is impossible to put precise figures on these possible sources.

Cattle: Exports

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Notice of Registrations (CPP35) the British Cattle Movement Service has issued in relation to the number of passports; what the main reasons are for which they have been issued; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 30 June 2008
	Cattle that cannot be properly identified are issued with a Notice of Registration (CPP35) and those that can are issued with cattle passports.
	The British Cattle Movement Service (BCMS) has issued 6,858,466 cattle passports and 44,242 Notice of Registrations in the period 1 January 2006 to 31 May 2008. A proportion of these Notice of Registrations animals may have since been issued with a passport on appeal.
	BCMS will issue a Notice of Registration when an application for a cattle passport arrives late, which is more than 27 days after the birth of the animal. In the last 12 months, around 0.08 per cent. of applications result in an appeal. 78 per cent. of these were successful and a passport was issued. In addition, a Notice of Registration is issued if an unidentified animal is found during an inspection.
	Animals with a Notice of Registration may be kept by the keeper on the holding on which they are found provided that the keeper tags them, keeps a record in the herd register and that they are registered on the cattle tracing system computer database. The notice explains the animal cannot be traded or go for human consumption and may only leave the holding alive under licence from BCMS to a disposal centre.

Coastal Areas: Access

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many representations he has received  (a) in support of and  (b) against the coastal access provisions contained in the Draft Marine Bill.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 2 July 2008
	 I understand that so far 3,879 responses have been received to the public consultation on the draft Marine Bill which closed on 26 June. We also received about 11,000 postcards from members of the Ramblers' Association supporting the inclusion of coastal access provisions in the draft Bill. We will publish a summary of the responses to the consultation within 12 weeks of the consultation closing.

Commission for Rural Communities

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to relocate the Commission for Rural Communities; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 1 July 2008
	I wrote to inform the hon. Member on 3 March 2008 that the Commission for Rural Communities' headquarters will remain in Cheltenham for the present time. However, my officials and the Commission's management team are looking at options which would provide the Commission with accessible, sustainable and affordable accommodation in the future, including remaining in their current building.

Departmental Expert Groups

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what expert groups his Department set up in each year since 1999.

Jonathan R Shaw: Details of formal, standing bodies set up by Government to provide independent, expert advice to Departments and Ministers are published annually by the Cabinet Office. These bodies, known as advisory non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs), are listed in the annual Public Bodies publication. Public Bodies also contains some details on short-term advisory groups and task forces. Copies of Public Bodies dating back to 1999 can be viewed and downloaded from:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/about/public/bodies.asp
	Copies are also available in the Library for the reference of Members.
	A list of DEFRA's current NDPB's, including advisory bodies, can be found on our website:
	http://defra/corporate/delivery/landscape/bodies/index.htm

Departmental Home Working

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in his Department are authorised to work from home.

Jonathan R Shaw: All grades of staff at DEFRA can apply to work flexibly, including working from home. However this is not an entitlement and should be done according to the business needs and with the line manager's approval. Since requests to work from home are submitted on an informal basis, we do not monitor applications at the moment and therefore cannot provide a figure for the number of employees working from home.
	The current policy says:
	Home working is not an automatic entitlement. Requests will be considered by line managers and although they may be agreed with the employee, the continuation of a home working agreement is dependant on regular review and is at the discretion of the line manager.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many jobs his Department expects to relocate under the policy of civil service job dispersal.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA's 2004 Spending Review target for relocating posts away from London and the South East by March 2010 is 390. By the end of December 2007, we had relocated 337 posts. Our latest forecast is that we will relocate a total of 1,035 posts by March 2010. This increase is largely due to the inclusion of DEFRA-sponsored Levy Bodies, which account for an increase of some 500 posts.

Departmental Sick Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much sick pay to staff in his Department cost in the last five years for which figures are available.

Jonathan R Shaw: The total cost of sick pay for staff in DEFRA for the last four financial years is given in the following table. Data prior to April 2004 are available only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			   
			  Financial year  (April to March each year)  Total cost of sick pay 
			 2007-08 3,569,351 
			 2006-07 4,146,313 
			 2005-06 4,894,761 
			 2004-05 3,524,208 
		
	
	The data cover all staff in core-DEFRA and those executive agencies covered by the core Department's terms and conditions (i.e. Animal Health, Marine and Fisheries Agency, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Government Decontamination Service and Pesticides Safety Directorate (who merged with the HSE on 1 April 2008)).

Departmental Written Questions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how long on average his Department took to answer  (a) ordinary written and  (b) named day questions in each of the last three years.

Jonathan R Shaw: Our database records information by parliamentary Sessions, and it is not maintained in such a way to enable the Department to extract the information requested without incurring disproportionate costs.
	However, we can provide information on the percentage of questions answered within the deadlines.
	
		
			  Parliamentary Session  Total named day questions tabled  Number answered on time  Percentage answered on time 
			 2004-05 269 82 30 
			 2005-06 934 315 33.7 
			 2006-07 791 385 48.7 
		
	
	
		
			  Parliamentary Session  Total written questions tabled  Number answered on time  Percentage answered on time 
			 2004-05 1,338 648 48.4 
			 2005-06 4,882 2,892 59.2 
			 2006-07 3,045 1,973 64.8 
		
	
	My ministerial colleagues and I aim to ensure that hon. Members receive a substantive response to their parliamentary questions on the due day. Unfortunately, this is not always possible.

Dogs: Animal Breeding

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether his Department will have responsibility for monitoring voluntary breeding schemes which are not supported by the Kennel Club;
	(2)  what role his Department will play in monitoring the Kennel Club's Accredited Breeders Scheme;
	(3)  what recent progress has been made in discussions with the Kennel Club on pedigree dog breeding and inherited health conditions;
	(4)  whether the Government plan to sign the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals.

Jonathan R Shaw: We are unaware of any voluntary breeding schemes that are not supported by the Kennel Club.
	We will wish to evaluate the success of the Kennel Club's Accredited Breeders Scheme when considering the need for any new legislation covering the breeding of dogs.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 11 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 273-74W.

Dogs: Animal Welfare

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what definition he uses of dog code, as used in his Department's guidance on the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Dog Code will, in common with all other codes of practice made under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, give practical guidance to owners and others responsible for dogs on provisions made by or under the Act.

Energy: Housing

Karen Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his latest estimate is of the percentage change in domestic energy efficiency in each English local authority since 1999-2000; and if he will set out performance figures for each authority against their domestic energy reduction target.

Phil Woolas: The Government hold data on overall improvements in energy efficiency reported by energy conservation authorities in England for the period 1 April 1996 to 31 March 2007. The data on overall progress provided by authorities each year are placed in the Library of both Houses of Parliament and are published on the DEFRA web site.

Flood Control

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what response his Department has made to the National Audit Office report on the state of flood defences; and what recent work the Environment Agency has undertaken to implement the report's recommendations.

Phil Woolas: The National Audit Office (NAO) report published on 15 June 2007 draws on information which is now over two years old. The Environment Agency has made substantial progress prior to and since the NAO report was published.
	Since February the Environment Agency has made more progress against both the Public Account's Committee Actions and the NAO's recommendations. The Environment Agency's Annual Report and Accounts will be laid in Parliament before the summer recess and will demonstrate progress across all its flood risk management activities including some of those covered by the NAO report.

Flood Control

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural 
	(1)  Affairs what assessment his Department has made of the impact of flooding where the Rivers Vyrnwy and Severn meet in the Llandrinio area; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the Environmental Agency's proposals to allow more flooding in the Llandrinio area as a flood mitigation measure for those living down stream; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency is conducting an assessment of the benefits and constraints in delivering future flood risk management activities along the River Severn under a catchment flood management plan (CFMP).
	The town of Llandrinio is located on the Severn and Vyrnwy Confluence. The assessment has identified a potential option of flood storage to deliver flood risk management benefits.
	Further detailed studies will be undertaken in due course for the Severn and Vyrnwy Confluence, as a result of the CFMP highlighting the possibility of delivering wider benefits via water storage. Work will only be carried out on the ground when further detailed studies have taken place in consultation with the local stakeholders, community and key landowners.

Floods

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects the Environment Agency to publish its temporary flood defence policy; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Following the summer 2007 floods, the Environment Agency has undertaken a strategic review of the use of temporary defences generally and their specific use at Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire.
	The recommendations of the review are that the Agency should in future stop using temporary defences as an alternative to permanent defences; where local commitments already exist, the Agency should continue to use temporary defences, working with other partners to share the responsibility, and that they should not provide temporary defences as a strategic service.
	These recommendations have been incorporated into the Environment Agency's policy, which is being finalised and is currently going through the formal approvals process for publication in July 2008.

Food

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how much food waste his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much food waste in tonnes his Department generated in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: We do not keep separate records of food waste generated. However, food waste that was generated and composted by the Department over the last three years is as follows:
	
		
			   Weight of composted waste (tonnes) 
			 2006-07 19.02 
			 2005-06 37.57 
			 2004-05 0.39 
		
	
	The Sustainable Development Commission have yet to verify government data for 2007-08, therefore we are unable to provide this information.
	Prior to 2004-05 DEFRA did not record composted waste separately.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Robert Flello: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the effectiveness of the Warm Front Scheme and the performance of eaga, with particular reference to the value for money of their pricing structures.

Phil Woolas: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 24 June 2008,  Official Report, column 168W.
	I can also assure him that all pricing processes were overseen by DEFRA's independent quality assessors, White Young and Green, to ensure the prices charged by the scheme are fair and reflect the market rate. These quality assessors have since undertaken reviews of Warm Front pricing which demonstrate that Warm Front charges continue to offer value for money.

Litter: Tobacco

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will bring forward proposals to make cigarette manufacturers responsible for the costs of removing cigarette butts from public places.

Jonathan R Shaw: Local authorities have a duty under section 89 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to keep land clear of all forms of litter and refuse. Decisions on taxation are for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

Marine Management Organisation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the benefits of constituting the proposed Marine Management Organisation as  (a) a non-departmental public body and  (b) an executive agency.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Marine Bill consultation in 2006 set out the status options which were considered for the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), including Executive agency. Careful consideration was given to the most appropriate status for the MMO, and responses to that consultation were taken into account.
	Non-departmental public body (NDPB) status was indicated by the Cabinet Office as the most appropriate given the functions that the new body is designed to deliver, together with the fact that those services will be delivered by the MMO on behalf of the Government and not just on behalf of DEFRA. This includes the role the MMO is intended to take on under the new marine planning regime set up under part two of the draft Marine Bill (which excludes policy making and adoption of marine plans). NDPB status will inspire confidence in other Government Departments and marine stakeholders that the MMO will act in an independent impartial manner.
	Creating the MMO as an Executive agency of DEFRA would not give confidence to other Government Departments or stakeholders that the body had the necessary independence from individual Ministers/policy areas to effectively carry out marine planning and licensing functions.

Migrant Workers: Conditions of Employment

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the regulatory impact of extending the requirement for licensing under the Gangmasters Licensing Act 2004 to sectors which are exempt.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 30 June 2008
	There has been no assessment of the regulatory impact of extending the requirement for licensing under the Gangmasters Licensing Act 2004 to non-regulated sectors, and the Government have no current plans to extend the scope of the Act.

Noise: Roads

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department plans to publish noise maps for major roads in England; and which roads in Milton Keynes will be mapped.

Jonathan R Shaw: The interactive noise mapping website which shows major roads within urban areas was published on 16 May 2008 on the DEFRA website.
	Information on major roads mapped outside urban areas are also available on the DEFRA website.

Pollution: Monitoring

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which pollution monitoring projects were funded by his Department in 2007; and how much funding was provided in each case.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Air Quality Grant runs by financial year. Details on the local authorities awarded a grant for monitoring purposes in the financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 are set out in the following tables.
	
		
			  Air quality grant scheme 2006-07 
			  Local authority  Award 
			 Adur District Council 25,000.00 
			 Barnsley MBC 30,000.00 
			 moved from Emission Inventory 10,000.00 
			 Bedford Borough Council 28,000.00 
			 Blaby District Council 15,000.00 
			 Boston Borough Council 10,178.00 
			 Bristol City Council 11,000.00 
			 Broxbourne Borough Council 10,000.00 
			 Calderdale MBC 9,072.00 
			 Cannock Chase Council 8,000.00 
			 Colchester 13,500.00 
			 Chichester DC 17,337.00 
			 Congleton Borough Council 12,000.00 
			 Coventry City Council 27,000.00 
			 Crewe and Nantwich Borough Council 17,000.00 
			 Derby City Council 10,000.00 
			 Doncaster MBC 13,000.00 
			 Dover District Council 11,666.00 
			 Eastleigh Borough Council 11,489.00 
			 Elmbridge Borough Council 17,000.00 
			 Erewash 10,000.00 
			 Fareham Borough Council 14,000.00 
			 Fenland DC 3,390.00 
			 Halton Borough Council 20,000.00 
			 Kingston-upon-Hull City Council 60,795.00 
			 Kirklees MBC 25,000.00 
			 Leeds City Council 7,000.00 
			 Leeds City Council 4,000.00 
			 Leicester City Council 8,750.00 
			 Liverpool City Council 90,000.00 
			 Mid Bedfordshire District Council 10,000.00 
			 Mid Devon District Council 15,000.00 
			 North West Leicestershire District Council 10,000.00 
			 Nuneaton and Bedworth District Council 19,500.00 
			 Oxford City Council 5,000.00 
			 Plymouth City Council 25,000.00 
			 Portsmouth City Council 25,000.00 
			 Reading BC 30,000.00 
			 Rotherham MBC 10,000.00 
			 Rugby Borough Council 25,000.00 
			 Salford City Council 25,295.00 
			 Sefton MBC 20,000.00 
			 Sheffield City Council 10,000.00 
			 Slough Borough Council 8,000.00 
			 South Buckinghamshire District Council 10,530.00 
			 South Shropshire District Council 2,500.00 
			 South Tyneside MBC 15,000.00 
			 St. Albans City and District Council 15,000.00 
			 Suffolk Coastal District Council 30,000.00 
			 Suffolk County Council 15,000.00 
			 Taunton Deane BC 1,700.00 
			 Teignbridge District Council 20,000.00 
			 Tewkesbury District Council 10,000.00 
			 Tunbridge Wells Borough Council 10,000.00 
			 Wakefield MDC 10,000.00 
			 Wycombe District Council 15,000.00 
			 York City Council 10,000.00 
			   
			  London borough  
			 London Borough of Barking and Dagenham 25,000.00 
			 London Borough of Bexley 3,000.00 
			 London Borough of Brent 14,000.00 
			 London Borough of Croydon 2,494.00 
			 London Borough of Ealing 53,000.00 
			 London Borough of Greenwich 51,000.00 
			 London Borough of Harrow 600.00 
			 London Borough of Hillingdon 10,000.00 
			 London Borough of Hounslow 15,000.00 
			 London Borough of Redbridge 19,500.00 
			 London Borough of Southwark 25,000.00 
			 London Borough of Sutton 10,000.00 
			 London Borough of Tower Hamlets 20,000.00 
			 London Borough of Wandsworth 30,000.00 
			 Total 1,230,296.00 
		
	
	
		
			  Air quality grant scheme 2007-08 
			  Local authority  Award 
			 Adur District Council 10,000.00 
			 Aylsbury Vale 12,094.00 
			 Bath and NE Somerset 11,080.00 
			 Blaby District Council 12,000.00 
			 Boston Borough Council 10,338.00 
			 Bristol City Council 26,500.00 
			 Bromsgrove 12,000.00 
			 Broxtowe BC 22,000.00 
			 Burnley Council 27,995.00 
			 Calderdale MBC 7,222.00 
			 Cannock Chase Council 9,080.00 
			 Canterbury City Council 14,000.00 
			 Chiltern District Council 12,100.00 
			 Derby 16,000.00 
			 Eastbourne 7,500.00 
			 East Staffordshire BC 23,161.00 
			 Epsom and Ewell Borough Council 15,000.00 
			 Fareham Borough Council 25,500.00 
			 Great Yarmouth 18,000.00 
			 Halton Borough Council 30,000.00 
			 Kings Lynn and West Norfolk 30,000.00 
			 Leeds City Council 11,000.00 
			 Leicester City Council 9,000.00 
			 Lewes District Council 6,600.00 
			 Mid Bedfordshire District Council 14,000.00 
			 Middlesbrough 36,000.00 
			 Mid Devon District Council 7,000.00 
			 New Forest 1 8,000.00 
			 New Forest 2 7,000.00 
			 North East Lincolnshire 7,000.00 
			 North Lincolnshire Council 7,262.00 
			 North Lincolnshire Council 3,000.00 
			 Oxford City Council 8,460.00 
			 Portsmouth City Council 22,259.00 
			 Reading BC 30,000.00 
			 Reigate and Banstead Borough Council 18,000.00 
			 Salford City Council 13,000.00 
			 Sefton MBC 16,300.00 
			 Sheffield City Council 10,000.00 
			 Shrewsbury and Atcham BC 25,000.00 
			 Slough Borough Council 18,000.00 
			 Southampton 3,000.00 
			 South Buckinghamshire District Council 13,555.00 
			 South Cambridgeshire DC 27,000.00 
			 Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council 36,250.00 
			 Surrey Heath Borough Council 13,000.00 
			 Taunton Deane BC 3,296.00 
			 Tewkesbury District Council 11,638.00 
			 Wakefield MDC 20,000.00 
			 Waverley 20,876.00 
			 West Dorset 15,000.00 
			 West Oxfordshire 7,500.00 
			 York City Council 30,000.00 
			   
			  London borough  
			 Barnet 1 17,445.00 
			 Bexley 1 26,000.00 
			 Brent 1 17,500.00 
			 Croydon 2,435.00 
			 Ealing 1 34,000.00 
			 Enfield (two years) (five years 51,000) 17,512.00 
			 Greenwich 1 41,000.00 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 9,000.00 
			 Harrow 9,000.00 
			 Havering 6,500.00 
			 Hillingdon 17,800.00 
			 Hounslow 20,000.00 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 20,000.00 
			 Lambeth 20,000.00 
			 Lambeth 5,500.00 
			 Merton 2,000.00 
			 Redbridge 25,000.00 
			 Southwark 15,000.00 
			 Tower Hamlets 25,000.00 
			 Wandsworth 1 35,000.00 
			 Westminster 17,000.00 
			 Total 1,212,258.00

Warehouse Parties

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance he has issued to  (a) local authorities and  (b) the Forestry Commission on illegal raves.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 1 July 2008
	DEFRA has not issued any guidance to local authorities or the Forestry Commission regarding illegal raves.

Warm Front Scheme

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many residents of  (a) St. Ives constituency,  (b) Cornwall and  (c) England applied for grants under the Warm Front Scheme in each year since 2000; and how many of each were successful in each such year.

Phil Woolas: I will write to the hon. Member with the information requested and arrange for copies to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Warm Front Scheme

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people resident in  (a) St. Ives constituency,  (b) Cornwall and  (c) England were offered a grant under the Warm Front Scheme which was of a sum less than that required to meet the cost of works in each year since 2000.

Phil Woolas: Client contributions were introduced to the Warm Front Scheme in June 2005. The following table illustrates, over the period 1 June 2005 to 31 March 2008, the number of households receiving at least one measure from the Warm Front Scheme, and the number of referrals where a contribution was requested from the householder.
	
		
			  Local authority description  Total households assisted  Referrals requiring contributions 
			 St. Ives Constituency 1,378 423 
			 Cornwall Contributions (LA Boundaries) 6,990 2,050 
			 England 583,727 115,802

Warm Front Scheme

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the grant limits for the Warm Front scheme will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 860W.

Whales: Japan

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 12 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 424-25W, on Japan, whether the Prime Minister presented Prime Minister Fukuda with the Government publication Protecting WhalesA Global Responsibility; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: For reasons given in my reply of 6 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1296W, and of 28 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1874W, I do not think it appropriate to provide the information sought by the hon. Member.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much timber and timber products were procured by his Department in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information on how much timber and timber products were procured by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs in each of the last five years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	DEFRA is committed to procuring legal and sustainable timber and leads on the timber procurement policy for central Government, which requires central Departments to actively seek to procure legal and sustainable timber. From April 2009, there will be a step change in policy and Departments will be required to procure legal and sustainable timber or timber licensed under the EU's Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) initiative. DEFRA also funds a Central Point of Expertise on Timber (CPET) to provide advice and guidance to all public sector buyers and suppliers, helping Departments meet the policy requirements.

Wood

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much timber and how many timber products were procured by his Department originating from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed FLEGT partner in each of the last five years; and at what cost.

Jonathan R Shaw: Information on how much timber and timber products originated from independently verified legal and sustainable sources in each of the last five years could be provided only by Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs at disproportionate cost.
	DEFRA has not procured any FLEGT licensed timber in the last five years as there is currently no FLEGT licensed timber on the market. The UK is working closely with the European Commission to support the negotiation of Voluntary Partnership Agreements with timber-producing countries, and the development of Legality Assurance Systems for the verification of legality of timber exports to the EU.
	DEFRA is committed to procuring legal and sustainable timber and leads on the timber procurement policy for central Government, which requires central Departments to actively seek to procure legal and sustainable timber. From April 2009, there will be a step change in policy and Departments will be required to procure legal and sustainable timber or timber licensed under the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) initiative.

World War II: Medals

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when his Department plans to issue Women's Land Army Award badges to applicants.

Jonathan R Shaw: holding answer 2 July 2008
	 The Women's Land Army badges will be issued to all applicants towards the end of July. We shall shortly be writing to all hon. and right hon. Members informing them of the arrangements in connection with this.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received since January 2008 from hon. and right hon. Members wishing to extend the Abortion Act 1967 to Northern Ireland; what response he gave; and if he will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: Since January 2008, I have received two letters from hon. Members writing on behalf of constituents who wished to see the Abortion Act 1967 extended to Northern Ireland. Additionally, I have received requests for meetings from two hon. Members to discuss the matter.
	The Government position remains the same. We have no plans to amend the law on abortion to include Northern Ireland. We also continue to believe the best forum for discussion of this issue is the Northern Ireland Assembly.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

Food: Health Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps the Government have taken to increase school pupils' awareness of the principles of healthy eating during school time.

Kevin Brennan: The Government have a range of programmes to make pupils aware of healthy eating. These include the food-based nutritional standards introduced in September 2006 for school lunches and from September 2007 for other school food.
	Schools can also achieve National Healthy Schools Status which requires them to satisfy 41 criteria under four core themes which include a Healthy Eating theme. Under this theme, a healthy school would have developed a food policy which ensures that lunches, breakfast club, tuck shop, vending machine and after-school food service (where available in school) meets or exceeds current DCSF school food standards.
	Government also announced on 23 January 2008, as part of their obesity strategy, that every young person will have to do compulsory cooking lessons. Food technology will be compulsory at key stage 3 for every 11 to 14-year-old from September 2011, with food technology lessons involving practical cooking lessons and classes on diet, nutrition and hygiene.
	The new key stage 3 Design and Technology programme of study to be introduced from September 2008 will include healthy eating models relating to a balanced diet, and will deliberately focus on practical cooking skills and knowledge.
	We continue to fund the Licence to Cook programme which aims to support schools to teach pupils how to cook a range of simple nutritious dishes from basic ingredients, and fund the Food in Schools programme. This involves secondary school teachers training primary school teachers to teach effective practical food lessons and support them in working towards the healthy eating strand of the National Healthy Schools Standard.

Pre-school Education: Tamworth

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children in Tamworth constituency took up free nursery places in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: The available information is shown in the tables.
	Table 1 provides information about the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four-year-olds in Tamworth parliamentary constituency area. Data are provided for 2007 only because parliamentary constituency data are not yet available for 2008.
	
		
			  Table 1: Part-time equivalent number of free early education places( 1,2)  filled by three and four-year-oldsTamworth parliamentary constituency area 
			  Position at January 2007 
			   Three-year-olds  Four-year-olds 
			   Maintained nursery and primary schools( 3)  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers( 4)  Total three-year-olds  Maintained nursery and primary schools( 5)  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers( 6)  Total four-year-olds 
			 2007 310 650 950 760 190 950 
			 (1) A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 and to the nearest 10 otherwise. (3) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (4) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. (5) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (6) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. 
		
	
	Table 2 provides information for 2008 about the part-time equivalent number of free early education places filled by three and four-year-olds for Staffordshire local authority area.
	
		
			  Table 2: Part-time equivalent number of free early education places( 1,2)  filled by three and four-year-oldsStaffordshire local authority 
			  Position at January 2008 
			   Three-year-olds  Four-year-olds 
			   Maintained nursery and primary schools( 3)  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers  Total three-year-olds  Maintained nursery and primary schools( 4)  Other maintained and private, voluntary and independent providers  Total four-year-olds 
			 2008 2,900 (5)4,700 7,600 7,000 (6)1,600 8,500 
			 (1) A place is equal to five or more sessions and can be filled by more than one child. (2) Figures are rounded to the nearest 100 if they exceed 1,000 and to the nearest 10 otherwise. (3) Headcount of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (4) Headcount of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the School Census. (5) Part-time equivalent number of children aged three at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. (6) Part-time equivalent number of children aged four at 31 December in the previous calendar year from the Early Years Census and the School Census. 
		
	
	The latest figures on early education places for three and four-year-olds in England were published in Statistical First Release (SFR) 12/2008 Provision for children under five years of age in England: January 2008, available on my Department's website:
	www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway/

School Meals: Organic Food

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps the Government have taken to promote the use of organic produce in school meals.

Kevin Brennan: It is for schools and local authorities to decide whether or not to include organic produce in the school meals that they provide. However, the School Food Trust, in partnership with DCSF, DEFRA and the North East Centre of Excellence has recently produced a booklet, A Fresh Look at School Food Procurement, Efficiency and Sustainability, which includes information about how providers of school food can improve the perception of their service through the use of certified, assured and seasonal produce.

Schools: Fair Trade Initiative

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what recent steps the Government have taken to encourage schools to gain Fair Trade status.

Kevin Brennan: Fair Trade issues are important to schools and young people, therefore our National Framework for Sustainable Schools includes doorways on food and drink and the global dimension. We expect all schools to be sustainable schools by 2020, showing strong commitment to the environment and social responsibility, both locally and globally.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families is raising awareness of Fair Trade issues through its Global Gateway website (www.globalgateway.org) where there is information on voluntary organisations such as Oxfam who are trying to make trade fairer. They are also opportunities for schools and young people to get involved in Fair Trade; for example, young people could become Fair Trade Young Co-operatives coordinators.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departmental ICT

Pete Wishart: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the value of his Department's computer systems  (a) was at the time of purchase and  (b) is now.

Phil Hope: The net book values of the Department's tangible and intangible assets are published in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Resource Accounts 2006-07, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. The 2007-08 Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts are expected to be published before the summer 2008 recess.
	At 31 March 2007 the net book value of the Department's information technology assets was 9.7 million. The cost of the assets at the time of purchase was 23.5 million.

Departmental Training

Oliver Heald: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department spent on away days located outside his Department's buildings in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: It is not possible to readily identify from the Department's accounting system how much the Cabinet Office spent on away days located outside the Department's buildings. This information is available only at disproportionate cost.
	All Cabinet Office expenditure on away days is made in accordance with published departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting and other HM Treasury guidance.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the cost of overseas visits by each Minister in his Department has been since 1997.

Edward Miliband: Since 1999 the Government have published the total cost of all overseas travel by Ministers and a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1112W. Details for the financial year 2007-08 will be published before the summer recess and will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	Information in respect of overseas visits by all Ministers for the period 1997-99 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Wastes

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps his Department has taken to reduce the volume of waste produced by it and sent to landfill in each of the last two years.

Phil Hope: The Department is on track to meet the Sustainable Operations on the Government Estate (SOGE) target for Departments to reduce waste arising by 5 per cent. by 2010, relative to 2004-05 levels. This has been done primarily by providing appropriate recycling facilities to ensure that the highest possible levels of recycling are achieved and encouraging staff to generate less waste, and consequently reduce the amount of landfill generated.

Government Departments: Car Allowances

Peter Viggers: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance his Department provides to Government Departments on levels of reimbursement of car mileage undertaken on Government business.

Phil Hope: The Cabinet Office does not provide central rules regarding the levels of reimbursement of car mileage undertaken on Government business. Departments and agencies have delegated authority to reimburse the expenses incurred by their own staff in connection with their employment subject to the conditions set in Section 8 of the Civil Service Management Code.

Government Departments: Car Allowances

Peter Viggers: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on what basis levels of reimbursement of car mileage undertaken on Government business are calculated.

Phil Hope: The Department does not provide central guidance on how the levels of reimbursement of car mileage are calculated. Departments and agencies have delegated authority to reimburse the expenses incurred by their own staff in connection with their employment subject to the conditions set in Section 8 of the Civil Service Management Code.

Joint Intelligence Committee: Manpower

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff the Joint Intelligence Committee has; and what the  (a) job description and  (b) pay band of each is.

Edward Miliband: The Joint Intelligence Committee is supported by the assessments staff, based in the Cabinet Office, which includes a range of analytical staff seconded from various departments, services and disciplines.
	As is the normal practice, and in the interest of national security, information on the number of staff, their job descriptions or their individual pay bands is not disclosed.

JUSTICE

Coroners: Northern Ireland

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what inquests have not opened in Northern Ireland more than five years after the death in question.

David Hanson: There are currently 47 cases in which the death occurred more than five years ago where the coroner has determined that an inquest is necessary but the inquest has yet to take place.

Departmental Information Officers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the average cost to his Department was of employing a press and media officer in 2007-08.

Michael Wills: The average costs to the Ministry of Justice for press and media officers are:
	Band A (Chief Press Officer level and above, but below SCS): 75,506
	Band B (Senior Information Officer): 46,677
	Band C (Information Officer): 38,410.
	These figures include costs for National Insurance and pension payments to the Department as well as salary.

Departmental Official Hospitality

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 859W, on departmental official hospitality, when he expects the list for hospitality received by senior civil servants in his Department in 2007 to be published.

Michael Wills: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 7 May 2008,  Official Report, column 885W.

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications his Department and its predecessor submitted in the last 24 months.

Michael Wills: The information requested has been deposited in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Secondment

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what procedures his Department uses to ensure equal opportunities in relation to staff secondments to the Department.

Michael Wills: My Department formally invites interest in secondments in a number of different ways in order to attract the widest possible field of candidates. This includes inviting interest both through the Whitehall and Industry Group and Cabinet Office, both of which take positive action in order to attract candidates from minority groups. Performance and development objectives are agreed with the post holder at the outset together with any learning and development support required. The MoJ has well-established equality and diversity policies and procedures. This includes provision of flexible working options and the opportunity to join staff networks, which can provide practical support to those from minority groups on secondment. Terms and conditions and the right to return to substantive post are agreed by the individual with the organisation from which they come.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost of overseas visits by each Minister in his Department has been since 1997.

Michael Wills: Since 1999 the Government have published the total cost of all overseas travel by Ministers and a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1112W. Details for the financial year 2007-08 will be published before the summer recess and will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	Information in respect of overseas visits by all Ministers for the period 1997 to 1999 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the likely compliance by different social groups with individual voter registration.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have not made any assessment of the likely compliance by different social groups with individual voter registration, but we are aware that any new system of electoral registration in Great Britain would need to be tailored to current circumstances, and in particular would need to address the challenge of under-registration.
	The Government are committed to the principle of individual registration. But this would be a far-reaching reform, and it would need to be undertaken with great careboth to make sure a new system is robust, and to ensure that it properly tackles the problem of under-registration.

Family Conciliation Services

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent representations his Department and its predecessor have received from children's charities on mediation in family disputes; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Neither this nor predecessor Departments have received any representations from children's charities regarding mediation in family disputes.
	The Government believe that mediation can offer considerable advantages over going to court in the settling of family disputes, especially where children are involved, irrespective of how cases are funded. To support and encourage mediation, we have established the Family Mediation Helpline and supporting website. The Helpline telephone number is 0845 60 26 627 and the website address is:
	www.FamilyMediationHelpline.co.uk
	We have sponsored a public awareness campaign; are facilitating judicial awareness seminars and supporting in-court referral schemes.
	Provisions of the Children and Adoption Act 2006 will enable the court to direct parties in child contact disputes to attend a meeting about mediation. Referrals will also be encouraged through changes to court forms, particularly in relation to disputes over children.
	The Legal Services Commission's revised Family Fee scheme will remove the financial disincentives for solicitors to make referrals to mediation. Under the scheme, it will be in the interests of the solicitor to make a referral to mediation and to do so at an earlier stage.
	The Ministry does not set targets for mediation because we do not think that a target in this area would be desirable. There are certain cases which are unsuitable for mediation because there is an imbalance of power between the parties. We do not wish to see such cases, which include those where one of the parties has been subject to domestic violence, forced into mediation. In addition, while we can advise parties about the benefits of mediation it could be a breach of the parties' human rights to prevent them having their case heard in court.

Government Communications

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies (i) are classified as Government communicators and (ii) have access to the Government Communication Network.

Michael Wills: The Ministry of Justice has 92 staff working in its Communications Directorate. These staff provide professional communications expertise in marketing and publications, stakeholder and staff communications, website management, media relations. Roles range from press officer, web editor, internal communications, marketing specialists and publications officers. Other Ministry staff in policy units may perform a communications function as part of their role, among other aspects. We do not hold a central list of such posts. It would not be possible to quantify this number without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The Land Registry has 13 Government communicators.
	The National Archives has 12 communicators.
	The Office of the Public Guardian has six staff in their communications and marketing team.
	The Tribunals Service-has six people in their communications team.
	The Judicial Communications Office has nine communications staff.
	The Judicial Appointments Commission has two Government communicators.
	Her Majesty's Court Service has 12 communicators.
	The Legal Services Commission has 16 communicators.
	No members of staff at the Boundary Commission for England and the Boundary Commission for Wales are classified as communications staff.
	All Civil Servants who work in a communications role can gain access to the Government Communications Network (GCN) and the resources that it provides. Membership of the GCN is self-determined and the Ministry does not hold a central record of such memberships.

Television: Licensing

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people in Northern Ireland were  (a) fined and  (b) prosecuted for non-payment of television licence fees in each of the last three years.

David Hanson: In 2007, 5,901 people in Northern Ireland were prosecuted for non-payment of a television licence and, of these, 4,464 were fined. These data have been collated due to new IT arrangements that were not available for 2005 and 2006.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many abortions were carried out at each week of gestation  (a) between four and 17 weeks and  (b) from 22 weeks in 2007, broken down by (i) age of mother, (ii) area of residency of mother, (iii) grounds for abortion, (iv) marital status of mother, (v) number of previous children and (vi) number of previous abortions; and how many and what percentage of those abortions were performed in the (A) public and (B) private sectors.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Abortions by gestation, 4-17 weeks and 22 weeks and over, and purchaser, age, strategic health authority (SHA) of residence, grounds, marital status and parity, residents of England and Wales, 2007 
			   Gestation weeks 
			   4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12 
			  Purchaser  
			 National health service 1,258 3,156 5,938 5,062 2,745 1,390 856 552 441 
			 Private 1,446 7,649 21,857 32,438 33,350 22,855 17,890 10,975 8,284 
			 Total all 2,704 10,805 27,795 37,500 36,095 24,245 18,746 11,527 8,725 
			 NHS percentage 53 71 79 87 92 94 95 95 95 
			 Private percentage 47 29 21 13 8 6 5 5 5 
			   
			  Age  
			 Under 16 16 118 430 705 798 584 472 298 262 
			 16 and 17 100 576 1,693 2,653 3,022 2,127 1,709 1,088 827 
			 18 and 19 212 986 2,632 3,970 4,394 3,081 2,613 1,660 1,180 
			 20-24 650 2,808 7,571 10,490 10,483 7,194 5,653 3,388 2,628 
			 25-29 695 2,543 6,389 8,345 7,471 4,997 3,699 2,233 1,710 
			 30-34 510 1,724 4,400 5,455 4,925 3,111 2,294 1,460 1,024 
			 35-39 358 1,350 3,173 4,114 3,550 2,291 1,636 975 780 
			 40 and over 163 700 1,507 1,768 1,452 860 670 425 314 
			 Total all 2,704 10,805 27,795 37,500 36,095 24,245 18,746 11,527 8,725 
			   
			  SHA of residence  
			 East of England 260 1,097 2,412 3,012 3,177 1,901 1,674 976 642 
			 East Midlands 39 273 1,038 1,886 2,744 1,852 1,723 1,106 674 
			 London 1,194 3,535 8,438 10,591 7,987 5,260 3,622 2,401 2,056 
			 North East 19 275 1,002 1,295 1,460 1,051 768 485 409 
			 North West 219 1,143 4,010 4,496 4,547 3,383 2,373 1,383 1,027 
			 South Central 126 772 1,666 2,626 2,483 1,418 978 616 415 
			 South East 328 1,102 2,168 3,214 2,336 1,367 1,012 593 490 
			 South West 107 416 1,350 2,233 2,682 1,928 1,622 1,053 731 
			 West Midlands 129 1,216 2,660 4,145 4,034 2,617 1,808 1,095 934 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 237 753 2,134 2,528 2,855 2,130 2,082 1,216 964 
			 Wales 46 223 917 1,474 1,790 1,338 1,084 603 383 
			 Total all 2,704 10,805 27,795 37,500 36,095 24,245 18,746 11,527 8,725 
			   
			  Grounds  
			 Section 1(1 )(c) alone or with other (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 Section 1(1 )(b) alone or with other (3) (3) (3) 61 104 118 132 (3) (3) 
			 Section 1(1 )(a) alone (3) (3) 27,599 37,106 35,488 23,656 18,259 11,250 8,323 
			 Section 1(1 )(a) alone or with other (3) (3) 143 307 476 451 329 168 143 
			 Section 1(1 )(d) alone or with other (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 44 212 
			 Total all 2,704 10,805 27,795 37,500 36,095 24,245 18,746 11,527 8,725 
			   
			  Marital status  
			 Single no partner 665 2,788 7,332 10,003 10,112 7,285 5,539 3,419 2,678 
			 Single with partner 1,261 4,601 11,297 14,454 13,825 9,181 7,047 4,292 3,044 
			 Single not stated 60 466 1,560 2,806 2,672 1,588 1,464 982 821 
			 Married/Civil partnership 519 1,972 4,898 6,147 5,125 3,266 2,258 1,339 1,048 
			 Separated 63 248 501 586 529 361 249 168 110 
			 Widowed (3) 30 47 52 65 31 33 14 (3) 
			 Divorced 47 155 339 429 354 236 147 98 76 
			 Not known/not stated (3) 545 1,821 3,023 3,413 2,297 2,009 1,215 (3) 
			 Total all 2,704 10,805 27,795 37,500 36,095 24,245 18,746 11,527 8,725 
			   
			  Previous pregnancies over 24 weeks resulting in a birth  
			 0 1,493 5,720 14,709 19,972 19,104 12,798 9,920 6,061 4,510 
			 1 502 1,994 5,300 7,245 7,220 4,840 3,704 2,440 1,893 
			 2 480 1,966 4,951 6,410 5,974 4,050 3,087 1,759 1,339 
			 3 156 776 1,927 2,645 2,549 1,680 1,314 798 618 
			 4 58 254 649 833 853 566 465 309 212 
			 5+ 15 95 259 395 395 311 256 160 153 
			 Total all 2,704 10,805 27,795 37,500 36,095 24,245 18,746 11,527 8,725 
			   
			  Previous abortions  
			 0 1,731 7,112 18,408 25,147 24,743 16,573 12,851 7,701 5,873 
			 1 750 2,820 7,223 9,553 8,830 5,917 4,530 2,883 2,142 
			 2 169 664 1,616 2,120 1,907 1,339 1,036 701 536 
			 3 or more 54 209 548 680 615 416 329 242 174 
			 Total all 2,704 10,805 27,795 37,500 36,095 24,245 18,746 11,527 8,725 
		
	
	
		
			   Gestation weeks 
			   13  14  15  16  17  22  23( 1)  24+ 
			  Purchaser 
			 National health service 324 204 188 125 109 62 51 135 
			 Private 4,917 3,539 2,581 1,778 1,444 735 330 (2) 
			 Total all 5,241 3,743 2,769 1,903 1,553 625 441 135 
			 NHS percentage 94 95 93 93 93 90 88 100 
			 Private percentage 6 5 7 7 7 10 12 0 
			  
			 Age 
			 Under 16 153 113 88 74 48 33 (3) (3) 
			 16 and 17 510 387 293 200 182 77 (3) (3) 
			 18 and 19 741 513 434 289 231 76 (3) (3) 
			 20-24 1,535 1,117 882 587 479 184 122 27 
			 25-29 967 674 478 316 274 108 78 30 
			 30-34 602 460 306 206 149 67 65 31 
			 35-39 506 333 194 159 130 52 43 28 
			 40 and over 227 146 94 72 60 28 (3) (3) 
			 Total all 5,241 3,743 2,769 1,903 1,553 625 441 135 
			  
			  SHA of residence 
			 East of England 314 202 193 137 117 58 37 26 
			 East Midlands 277 252 212 150 120 49 (3) (3) 
			 London 1,440 726 723 463 447 163 112 29 
			 North East 238 177 128 85 69 (3) (3) (3) 
			 North West 520 723 299 218 146 62 40 20 
			 South Central 374 165 153 121 105 51 (3) (3) 
			 South East 337 199 187 145 87 51 40 15 
			 South West 414 282 172 135 112 47 (3) (3) 
			 West Midlands 500 489 342 212 162 (3) (3) (3) 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 562 344 244 160 129 66 (3) (3) 
			 Wales 265 184 116 77 59 42 (3) (3) 
			 Total all 5,241 3,743 2,769 1,903 1,553 625 441 135 
			  
			  Grounds 
			 Section 1(1 )(c) alone or with other (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 Section 1(1 )(b) alone or with other (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 Section 1(1 )(a) alone 4,867 3,464 2,632 1,770 1,431 486 354 (4) 
			 Section 1(1 )(a) alone or with other (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (4) 
			 Section 1(1 )(d) alone or with other 307 211 99 104 110 (3) (3) (3) 
			 Total all 5,241 3,743 2,769 1,903 1,553 625 441 135 
			  
			  Marital status 
			 Single no partner 1,536 1,391 879 607 537 168 109 (3) 
			 Single with partner 1,764 1,097 934 587 463 195 38 (3) 
			 Single not stated 538 330 265 177 134 60 151 (3) 
			 Married/Civil partnership 718 469 318 245 192 107 75 (3) 
			 Separated 70 41 34 22 (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 Widowed (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 
			 Divorced 44 21 19 14 10 (3) (3) (3) 
			 Not known/not stated (3) (3) (3) (3) (3) 85 (3) (3) 
			 Total all 5,241 3,743 2,769 1,903 1,553 625 441 135 
			  
			  Previous pregnancies over 24 weeks resulting in a birth 
			 0 2,742 1,940 1,483 1,013 822 365 (3) (3) 
			 1 1,126 880 608 438 349 131 (3) (3) 
			 2 804 535 393 260 214 76 (3) (3) 
			 3 337 246 179 121 108 33 (3) (3) 
			 4 149 96 69 52 42 (3) (3) (3) 
			 5+ 83 46 37 19 18 (3) (3) (3) 
			 Total all 5,241 3,743 2,769 1,903 1,553 625 441 135 
			  
			  Previous abortions 
			 0 3,551 2,563 1,879 1,306 1,065 447 (3) (3) 
			 1 1,291 900 704 465 378 122 (3) (3) 
			 2 303 213 145 104 73 (3) (3) (3) 
			 3 or more 96 67 41 28 37 (3) (3) (3) 
			 Total all 5,241 3,743 2,769 1,903 1,553 625 441 135 
			 (1) 23 weeks includes gestations of 24 weeks plus 0 days. (2 )Not applicableall abortions over 24+ weeks gestation must be performed in an NHS hospital. (3 )Suppressed value less than 10 (between 0 and 9) or where a presented value would reveal a suppressed total. (4 )Not applicabletime limit for Section 1 (1 )(a) is 24 weeks plus 0 days.

Alcoholic Drinks: Children

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children under 16 years of age were admitted to the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with either a primary or secondary diagnosis related to alcohol in each year since 2001; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the number of children under 16 years, admitted to the Peterborough and Stanford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust with either a primary or secondary diagnosis related to alcohol, in each year since 2001 is not centrally held.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients admitted to hospital needed treatment for excess alcohol consumption in  (a) Milton Keynes and  (b) Buckinghamshire in each of the last three years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information on the percentage of patients admitted to hospital needed treatment for excess drinking in Milton Keynes and Buckinghamshire in each of the last three years is not held centrally.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many under 25-year-olds were admitted to hospital in Milton Keynes for alcohol-related illness in the most recent period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on the number of under 25s admitted to hospital in Milton Keynes for alcohol related illness is not held centrally.

Ambulance Services: Working Hours

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) representations he has received and  (b) research he has commissioned on the effect of the EU Working Time Directive on the ability of ambulance staff to attend emergencies promptly; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: During the introduction of the Agenda for Change NHS pay system, the Department received occasional representations on issues relating to meal breaks, although not all of these explicitly referenced the European Working Time Directive. We have not received any such representations recently, nor have we commissioned research on the effect of the European Working Time Directive on the ability of ambulance staff to attend emergencies.
	Ambulance staff have been covered by the European Working Time Directive since 1998 and local NHS employers are responsible for its implementation.

Blood Transfusions

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the NHS of providing treatment for  (a) HIV/AIDS and  (b) hepatitis C to haemophiliacs infected as a result of receiving contaminated blood products under NHS treatment (i) per person and (ii) in each year since 2000; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what estimate the Department has made of the cost of supporting  (a) haemophiliacs and  (b) dependants of haemophiliacs infected with (i) HIV and (ii) hepatitis C as a result of contaminated blood products administered to them under NHS treatment (A) in total and (B) in each of the next 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has not undertaken an assessment of the costs of providing HIV/AIDS or hepatitis C treatment to haemophiliacs infected as a result of receiving contaminated blood.
	An estimated 50 million has been paid through the Skipton Fund to support patients with haemophilia infected with hepatitis C. Of these payments, in up to 50 cases, payments were made to dependants.
	Patients and dependants of patients who were infected with HIV do receive support from the Macfarlane Trust. Information is not available on the cost of supporting these dependants.

Carer's Allowance: Chester

Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the City of Chester constituency receive carer's allowance.

Anne McGuire: I have been asked to reply
	As at November 2007, the most recent available information, 710 people in the City of Chester parliamentary constituency were in receipt of carer's allowance.

Children: Palliative Care

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what steps the Government has taken to improve the quality of care given to children with terminal illnesses;
	(2)  what support the Government gives to parents of children with terminal illnesses.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 2 July 2008
	On 19 February 2008, we launched the first national strategy for children's palliative care Better Care: Better Lives, copies of the Strategy are available in the Library. The Strategy will assist local commissioners, providers and regulators in devising local strategies to enable every child and young person with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition access to high-quality, family centred, sustainable care and support with services provided in a setting of choice according to the child's and family's wishes. It sets out clear expectations for improving choice, access and continuity of care, and seeks to place palliative care at the centre of local children's service provision.
	We also announced an additional 20 million in funding to enable the Children's Hospices and Hospice at Home grant to continue in 2009-10 and 2010-11 with 10 million available in each year.
	We wrote to primary care trusts and local authorities on 19 December 2007, setting out the investment and growth funding put in place to support our commitments and priorities for disabled children set out in the Children's Plan and the operating framework. For the National Health Service in England 2008-09. This includes substantial investment to increase the range and number of short breaks. Copies of both publications are available in the Library.

Dementia: Drugs

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will consider extending the recently announced review into the prescription of anti-psychotic drugs to people with dementia to include people with a learning disability.

Ivan Lewis: The review into the prescription of anti-psychotic drugs for people with dementia will cover all those who have the condition, including people with a learning disability who have dementia.

Depression: Medical Treatments

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many treatments for depression using the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence-approved computerised cognitive behavioural therapy have been commissioned by primary care trusts since March 2007; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what funding his Department provides for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence-approved computerised cognitive behavioural therapy packages in primary care trusts; how much of this funding has been spent in the 2008-09 financial year; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  pursuant to the answer of June 2008,  Official Report, column 604W, on psychiatry: standards, what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of primary care trusts that provide National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)-approved computerised cognitive behavioural therapy at a level sufficient to meet the requirements set out in NICE guidelines.

Ivan Lewis: The information requested is not held centrally.
	National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published its guidance computerised cognitive behaviour therapy for depression and anxiety in February 2004. NICE will be consulting on review plans for this guidance in September 2008.
	Whether a patient has received computerised cognitive behavioural therapy (cCBT) treatment would be recorded in individual patients' notes and by the various NHS, private and voluntary sector organisations providing such services.
	The Department's role is to set out a strategic framework and secure adequate funding for the NHS and adult care services. PCTs are responsible for providing local health services, including the provision of cCBT and together with their strategic health authorities are responsible for deciding which services to plan, commission and develop to meet the health needs of their local communities.

Doctors: Working Hours

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 26 June 2008,  Official Report, column 506W, on doctors: working hours, what guidance he has issued to healthcare trusts on application of the European Working Time Directive with particular reference to  (a) compensatory rest requirements and  (b) accrual of compensatory rest as annual leave entitlement;
	(2)  what guidance he has issued to  (a) healthcare trusts and  (b) other care setting providers on the inclusion of sleeping duty in calculations of inactive on-call time.

Ann Keen: An information note on resident on-call working and compensatory rest for NHS and social care employers was updated on 18 March 2004. The note was entitled; Jaeger judgment: information for NHS and social care employer, copies have been placed in the Library and are available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Humanre sources andtraining/Modernisingworkforceplanninghome/European workingtimedirective/DH_4068970
	A further information note was published in August 2006 entitled; European Working Time Directive: Information note on compensatory rest and exceptional circumstances. Copies of this note have been placed in the Library and are also available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Managingyourorganisation/Humanre sourcesandtraining/Modernisingworkforceplanninghome/Europeanworkingtimedirective/DH_4066882
	We have not issued guidance about accrual of compensatory rest as annual leave entitlement. General guidance on the Working Time Regulations can be found on the Department of Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform's website at:
	www.berr.gov.uk/employment/employment-legislation/employment-guidance/page28978.html

Elderly: Abuse

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department has  (a) taken and  (b) plans to take to prevent elder abuse; what recent discussions he has had with the Commission for Social Care Inspection on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Government regard abuse of vulnerable and older people as unacceptable in all its forms and are determined to root it out.
	We are addressing the issue in a variety of ways. We set out standards for care and treatment for the national health service and social care services via the national service frameworks for older people and mental health and the White Paper, Valuing People: A New Strategy for Learning Disability.
	We introduced regulations and national minimum standards for care homes, domiciliary care agencies and adult placements. These are intended to ensure vulnerable and older people can live in a safe environment, where their rights and dignity are respected, staff are properly trained and care is of the requisite quality.
	We have created independent regulators, the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and the Healthcare Commission, and given them the powers they need to take action against poorly performing providers or where abuse occurs. Ultimately, they have the power to close services down.
	We introduced the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) Scheme in July 2004, which requires staff who provide personal care to older people in their own homes or in care homes to be subject to statutory checks, including checks of their criminal record. The scheme, which operates as a workforce ban, prevents dangerous or unscrupulous people from gaining access to older and vulnerable people in care homes or being cared for in their own homes.
	We expect local authorities to play their part. No Secrets (copies of which are available in the Library), statutory guidance published by the Department of Health and the Home Office in 2000, provides a complete definition of abuse and a framework for councils to work with the police, the NHS and regulators to tackle abuse and prevent it from occurring. On 14 June 2007, I announced a review of the No Secrets guidance. The case for legislation to protect vulnerable adults will be considered as part of the review and there will be a public consultation later this year.
	On 14 June, I also announced plans to introduce a new monitoring system to report the extent of abuse across England. This will help address the current information gap on levels of reported abuse. As part of this, the Department will introduce a standardised method for the collection of data on protection of vulnerable adult referrals in England. The Information Centre for health and social care (IC) is leading the work to develop and collect data from councils. The IC anticipates that councils should be in a position to collect the data during 2008-09 and expect to have collected the data, analysed them and be in a position to disseminate the findings by the end of 2009.
	Local authorities (LAs) have been given specific responsibilities. Statutory guidance issued in May 2006 required them to ensure that Directors of Adult Social Services maintain a clear organisational and operational focus on safeguarding vulnerable adults and that relevant statutory requirements and other national standards are met, including POVA requirements. LAs must make sure the Director of Adult Social Services has the powers and resources necessary to encourage a culture of vigilance against the possibility of adult abuse.
	The Mental Capacity Act 2005, which came into force on 1 October 2007, introduces a new criminal offence of ill treatment or wilful neglect of a person who lacks capacity.
	The Department supports the work of the charity, Action on Elder Abuse (AEA). AEA has been awarded a three-year section 64 grant, totalling 360,000. This grant covers the three-year period from 2007 to 2009 and is to help fund central administrative costs.
	We are introducing a new centralised vetting and barring scheme for people working with children and vulnerable people. This scheme, as set out in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, will extend the coverage of the existing barring schemes and draw on wider sources of information to provide a more comprehensive and consistent measure of protection for vulnerable groups across a wide range of settings, including the whole of social care and the NHS. It will be proactive, with vetting taking place on an individual's first application to work with children or vulnerable adults.
	The scheme, which will be administered by the new Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA), will make it far more difficult for abusers to gain access to some of the most vulnerable groups in society. It will start to receive applications from 12 October 2009. When used in conjunction with an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check, the ISA scheme will provide employers with the most comprehensive vetting service on offer anywhere in the world.
	CSCI has ongoing discussions with the Department on the prevention of elder abuse. Recent meetings to discuss the issue have included:
	The Advisory Group for the review of No Secrets;
	The ISA Regulator's Sub Group, to advise on key issues for regulators in relation to establishing the new ISA and vetting and barring scheme; and
	The reference group to advise on establishing the national data collection by local councils.
	CSCI is represented on all of these groups.

EU Employment Social Policy Health and Consumer Affairs Council

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Written Ministerial Statement of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 39-40WS, on the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council, for what reason no Minister attended the Council held on 9 and 10 June 2008.

Dawn Primarolo: Due to parliamentary commitments, no Minister was able to attend the health council meeting. In accordance with protocol, a senior official from the United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the European Union (the Deputy Permanent Representative, Andy Lebrecht) represented the UK.

National Health Service Blood and Transplant Agency

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the proposed relocation of the National Health Service Blood and Transplant Agency to Bristol; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: There are no plans to move NHS Blood and Transplant to Bristol. However, a new blood centre will open at Filton, near Bristol this year, which will be the largest blood processing centre in the world. It will include cutting edge technology and be a state-of-the-art centre.

NHS Cord Blood Bank

Richard Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  for what reasons the NHS cord blood bank is to be relocated to Bristol;
	(2)  what the estimated cost of the proposed relocation of the NHS cord blood bank to Bristol will be.

Dawn Primarolo: The processing, storage and testing of cord blood will move to the new blood centre at Filton, which will also house other stem cell activities.
	NHS Blood and Transplant will continue to collect cord blood donations in the four hospitals where this currently takes place, with collection also due to begin at St George's Hospital in Tooting later this year.
	The rationale for moving processing, storage and testing of cord blood to Filton rests on considerations of:
	safety and quality assurance
	capacity, capability and training/career opportunities for staff. The benefits of co-locating the NHS cord blood bank at Filton include the fact that staff processing cord blood will have the opportunity to develop their skills and expertise with bone marrow and peripheral blood testing; and
	consolidation of services to retain a good geographic spread across the country, while enabling the service to be more productive and ensuring the necessary flexibility to meet clinical and safety requirements now and in the future.
	The development of new facilities for storage of cord blood units at Edgware or Colindale is not an option due to lack of space and additional cost.
	The initial estimate of the cost of moving the processing, testing and storage of cord blood from Edgware to the new Filton Blood Centre is 80,000.

NHS: Drugs

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the  (a) number of patients who experienced serious side effects as a direct consequence of taking prescribed medicines in the last period for which figures are available and  (b) cost to the NHS of dealing with this problem.

Dawn Primarolo: Reports of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are collected by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Commission for Human Medicines (CHM) through the spontaneous reporting scheme; the Yellow Card Scheme (YCS).
	The YCS collects ADR reports from across the whole United Kingdom and includes all medicines, including those from prescriptions, over-the-counter or general retail sales. Reports are also received for herbal medicines and other unlicensed medicines.
	During the last financial year (1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008), the MHRA received 19,227 serious suspected ADR reports associated with all medicines. It is not possible to provide numbers of ADR reports received specifically for prescribed medicines as this information is not collected on yellow cards.
	It is important to note that the number of reports received via the YCS does not directly equate to the number of people who suffer adverse reactions to drugs for a number of reasons, as the YCS is associated with an unknown level of under-reporting.
	It is also important to note that the submission of a suspected ADR report does not necessarily mean that it was caused by the drug. Many factors have to be taken into account in assessing causal relationships including temporal association, the possible contribution of concomitant medication and the patient's underlying disease.
	An assessment has been made by the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) of the cost to the national health service of avoidable harm related to taking prescribed medicines. This is outlined in their fourth Patient Safety Observatory report Safety in doses: medication safety incidents in the NHS, which estimated the figure at 770 million each year in England.
	Copies of this publication have been placed in the Library and are also available on the NPSA's website at:
	www.npsa.nhs.uk/patientsafety/alerts-and-directives/directives-guidance/safety-in-doses/

Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the date was of each meeting his officials have had with the South Central Strategic Health Authority on the future of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in the last 12 months; what the purpose of those meetings was; and what was discussed at each.

Ivan Lewis: The following meetings have taken place between departmental officials and South Central strategic health authority (SHA) on the future of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in the last 12 months:
	On 11 June 2008, departmental officials met with senior executives of South Central SHA to review the SHA's financial and service plans and projected performance for the South Central area. This included reference to the expected performance of the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in 2008-09.
	On 19 June 2008, departmental officials met the chief executive and deputy chief executive of South Central SHA specifically for them to explain its approach to the strategic review of future options for the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre. The SHA agreed to keep the Department informed of developments as the review progressed and potential options emerged.

Nutrition

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the proportion of the population which consumes less than five portions of fruit and vegetables a day.

Dawn Primarolo: The Health Survey for England 2006 shows 70 per cent. of adults and 79 per cent. of children aged five to 15 consuming less than five portions of fruit and vegetables per day. Copies of this publication have already been placed in the Library.
	Average fruit and vegetable consumption was 3.9 portions per day(ppd) among adults and 3.3 ppd among children.

Obesity: Children

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on levels of (i) childhood obesity and (ii) children's levels of exercise; and what benchmarking his Department has done of the results of such research against equivalent figures for other European countries.

Dawn Primarolo: The Information Centre for health and social care is commissioned by the Department to collect and evaluate data on the National Child Measurement programme (NCMP) and the Health Survey for England (HSE).
	The NCMP provides the most comprehensive data on obesity among children aged 4 to 5 and 10 to 11 years. The most recent available data can be found in National Child Measurement Programme: 2006-07 school year, headline results, which was published on 21 February 2008. Copies of this publication have already been placed in the Library.
	The HSE collects data on levels of obesity and physical activity in children aged 2 to 15. The most recent available data can be found in Health Survey for England 2006: Volume 2 Obesity and other risk factors in children, which was published on 31 January 2008. Copies of this publication have already been placed in the Library.
	Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: a Cross Government Strategy for England, published on 23 January 2008 (copies of the Strategy have already been placed in the Library), committed the Government to establishing the National Obesity Observatory. In June 2008 it published National Child Measurement Programme: Detailed Analysis of the 2006-07 National Dataset, which highlights the usefulness of the NCMP for advancing our understanding of underweight, overweight and obese children. Copies of this publication have been placed in the Library.
	The Department has not benchmarked these figures on levels of obesity and physical activity in children against equivalent figures for other European countries. The Government Office of Science's Foresight project Tackling Obesities: Future Choices is a world-leading analysis of the causes and consequences of obesity, which includes an evidence review International Comparisons of Obesity Trends, Determinants and Responses, which compares levels of child obesity in England with figures for other European countries. Copies of this publication have been placed in the library.
	The Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children: World Health Organization Collaborative Cross-National Study's latest report Inequalities in Young People's Health, presents a comparison of levels of physical activity by young people aged 11, 13, and 15 years in 41 countries and regions across Europe and North America, including England. It was published on 17 June 2008. The relevant section of this publication has been placed in the Library.

Obesity: Children

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what data his Department collect on levels of obesity on a regional basis; and what estimate he has made of obesity levels among children in London in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available in the exact format requested.
	Information on the percentage of adults aged 16 and over, and children aged 2 to 15 in England who are obese, broken down by Government office region and strategic health authority (SHA), are collected in the Health Survey for England.
	The most recent available data for adults can be found in Table 5.3, page 99, Health Survey for England 2006: Volume 1 Cardiovascular disease and risk factors in adults, which was published on 31 January 2008. Copies of this publication are available in the Library.
	The most recent available data for children can be found in Tables 2.3 and 2.11, pages 36 and 43, Health Survey for England 2006: Volume 2 Obesity and other risk factors in children, which was published on 31 January 2008. Copies of this publication have been placed in the Library.
	Information on the trends in obesity among children in the London Government office region for 1995-97, 1998-2000, 2001-2003, and 2004-06 can be found in Table 2.11, page 43, Health Survey for England 2006: Volume 2 Obesity and other risk factors in children.

Obesity: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people were classified as clinically obese in Peterborough Primary Care Trust area and its predecessor bodies in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information on the number of people classified as clinically obese in Peterborough Primary Care Trust, and its predecessors in each year since 1997, is not held centrally.

Papillomavirus

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what specifications were included in the tendering process for the vaccine against human papillomavirus.

Dawn Primarolo: The specification set out in the procurement documents for the human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) identified the following categories of requirements:
	Requirements described as 'mandatory' are compulsory requirements. Offerors must confirm in their offer that they are able to fully meet all mandatory requirements in order for such offer to be a fully compliant offer. Offers which do not meet all mandatory requirements may be rejected by the agency(1);
	Requirements described as 'non-mandatory' are desirable, but not compulsory requirements. The offeror's ability to meet the non-mandatory requirements will form part of the evaluation of the offer, but non-compliance with the non-mandatory requirements will not, of itself, render that offer non-compliant; and
	Requirements described as 'information' are requests for information or documentation. The quality and/or content of such information or documentation will form part of the evaluation of the offer. The required information must be included in an offer in order for that offer to be a fully complaint offer.
	The detailed requirements were:
	
		
			Requirement 
			  1.1.0Product   
			 1.1.1 HPV supplied as a suspension for injection in a pre-filled syringe. Mandatory requirement 
			
			 1.1.2 The vaccine must be licensed for use in the United Kingdom to protect against HPV strains 16 and 18. Mandatory requirement 
			
			 1.1.3 The vaccine must be indicated for the prevention of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN grades 2 and 3) and cervical cancer causally related to HPV types 16 and 18. Mandatory requirement 
			
			 1.1.4 The vaccine must be licensed for administration to girls aged 12 and older via a maximum of three doses. Mandatory requirement 
			
			 1.1.5 In addition to the protection against HPV strains 16 and 18 the Authority(2) will consider other aspects of product efficacy, to include Non-mandatory requirement 
			  additional licensed indications;  
			  cross protection against HPV strains other than those types covered in the licensed indications from pre and post licensing clinical trials;  
			  duration of protection for all licensed indications; and  
			  management of storage temperature excursions as supported by accelerated stability studies.  
			
			 1.1.6 Offerors are required to provide supporting information as part of their submission. Information requirement 
			 1.1.7 Offerors are requested to provide information in relation to variations to the dosage schedules for their vaccine. Information requirement 
			
			  1.2.0Presentation   
			 1.2.1 The vaccine must be supplied as a pre-filled syringe with needle for administration. Mandatory requirement 
			
			 1.2.2 The Authority has a preference for a single syringe pack presentation to reduce the potential for wastage during the Immunisation Programme. Non-mandatory requirement 
			
			 1.2.3 Offerors must provide details of the pack sizes available. Information requirement 
			
			  1.3.0Shelf life   
			 1.3.1 The licensed shelf life of the vaccine shall be at least three years Mandatory requirement 
			
			 1.3.2 Shelf life of the product supplied should be equal to the maximum shelf life less the time used for release and shipment of the product to the Authority(2) and shall be no less than two years. Mandatory requirement 
			
			 1.3.3. Offerors must provide details of the anticipated shelf life of the vaccine to be supplied to the Authority(2). This must be supported by information on the production and final product release timelines, including the maximum time required for external quality assessment by the OMCL(3) if the expiry date of a vaccine batch is determined before this production stage in the vaccine Marketing Authorisation. Information requirement 
			
			  1.4.0Temperature indicators   
			 1.4.1 The Authority(2) has a preference for the inclusion in the vaccine packaging of a temperature indicator which would indicate if the vaccine had been exposed to a temperature above or below the storage requirements specified in the Marketing Authorisation. Non-mandatory requirement 
			  The purpose of this request is to reduce wastage where there has been a transient increase or reduction in temperature in storage and the supply as measured by the surrounding air temperature and the product temperature may have remained within the approved temperature range.  
			
			 1.4.2 This response should include, but is not limited to, information on the availability of such temperature indicators and the feasibility of providing these with the vaccine doses supplied during the life of this Agreement. Information requirement 
			
			  1.5.0Cold chain delivery requirements   
			 1.5.1 Offerors are requested to provide details of the method of distribution and temperature control systems that will be employed, including the records that will be provided to the Authority(2). Information requirement 
			
			  1.6.0Batch numbering system   
			 1.6.1 Offerors are requested to provide details of the structure of their batch numbering system for the vaccine. This information is being requested to allow the Authority(2) to incorporate an error checking system for the recording of batch numbering into the Child Health Monitoring computer systems. Information requirement 
			
			  2.1.0Delivery schedule   
			 2.1.1 Offerors must be able to deliver 820,000 doses during August and September 2008. The delivery profile for this requirement must comprise of no less than 50,000 doses delivered by 1 August 2008, 200,000 doses delivered by 15 August 2008, 115,000 doses delivered by 22 August, 255,000 doses delivered by the 5 September 2008 and 200,000 doses delivered by 19 September 2008. Offerors should note that no deliveries can be made before 1 July 2008. Mandatory requirement 
			  Offerors may vary the requirements laid out in 2.1.1, but only in so far that the Authority receives the quantities required before all of the dates stated in 2.1.1, though not prior to 1 July 2008.  
			
			 2.1.2 Offerors should include a proposed delivery schedule detailing how they would deliver the consignments necessary to complete the delivery of the first 820,000 doses to the Authority's(2) nominated distributor. Offerors should note that no deliveries can be made before 1 July 2008. Information requirement 
			
			 2.1.3 Offerors must be able to deliver the total number of doses of vaccine as identified in the delivery requirements. Mandatory requirement 
			
			 2.1.4 Offerors must be able to deliver the 'in year' totals that is 1,620,000 doses delivered in year 1 of the contract, 3,900,000 doses delivered in year 2 of the contract and 2,025,300 doses delivered in year 3 of the contract. Mandatory requirement 
			
			 2.1.5 For all deliveries after the first 820,000 doses, in addition to 2.1.1, 2.1.3 and 2.1.4, offerors must ensure the programme stock levels are maintained and therefore the proposed schedule is mandatory in that the Authority must receive the quantities required before all of the dates stated. Mandatory requirement 
			
			 2.1.6 Taking account of the mandatory requirements laid out in 2.1.1, 2.1.3, 2.1.4 and 2.1.5, Offerors are encouraged to deliver in accordance with the delivery profile outlined. Offerors should note that the offers will be evaluated on how well the proposed delivery schedule matches (or in the case of the first 820,000 doses, exceed) the requirements. Non-mandatory requirement 
			
			 2.1.7 Offerors are required to provide their proposed delivery schedule. Information requirement 
			
			  2.2.0Pallets   
			 2.2.1 The Authority would prefer the Offeror to use Europallets for the delivery to the Authority's distribution agent and for storage within the distribution agent's warehouse Non-mandatory requirement 
			
			 2.2.2 Offerors are required to provide details of their pallet-packing configuration. Information requirement 
			
			  2.3.0Manufacturing contingency plans   
			 2.3.1 Offerors must be able to demonstrate to the Authority that they have an effective contingency plan for the maintenance of vaccine supply to cover manufacturing problems and staff shortages. This should include the use of alternative production facilities and safety stock provisions. Mandatory requirement 
			
			 2.3.2 Offerors are requested to provide a summary of the contingency plan. The Authority will use the information provided in this summary document to evaluate the supply risks in the tender evaluation. Offerors should provide a summary document and clearly state the file name/reference. Information requirement 
			
			  2.4.0Production Capacity   
			 2.4.1 Offerors are requested to provide the Authority with the following details which will also be used to assess the supply risks in the tender evaluation: Information requirement 
			  The average number of doses in a production batch of vaccine;  
			  The current and maximum production capacity in terms of finished vaccine dose per week or month;  
			  The current production demand in doses per month;  
			  The number of batches submitted for release by the OMCL(s) and the pass rate in the last 12 months; and  
			  The production cycle time.  
			
			 2.4.2 Offerors are requested to include any additional information to be taken into consideration in relation to production capacity. Information requirement 
			
			  2.5.0Risk management of storage and distribution   
			  Offerors must be able to demonstrate to the Authority that they have an effective risk management approach to storage and distribution of the vaccine. Offerors are required to provide a summary of their risk management plans to minimise loss of stock in relation to Information requirement 
			  storage arrangements prior to delivery to the Authority; and  
			  transportation of stock to the Authority's nominated distributor.  
			  Offerors should provide a summary document and clearly state the file name / reference summary.  
			
			  2.6.0Variant offers   
			  In addition to their core offer, offerors may wish to provide the Authority with a single variant offer that improves the clinical and/or cost effectiveness of the vaccination programme. The Authority is not considering any options for direct delivery of the product from supplier to the primary care trust or general practitioner under this procurement exercise. Any valid variant offers received will be subject to the same evaluation criteria as the core offer. Non-mandatory requirement 
			 (1) Any references in the specification to the agency refers to National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency. (2) Any reference in the specification to the authority refers to the Department of Health. (3) OMCL refers to the Official Medical Control Laboratory.

Papillomavirus

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment his Department has made of the efficacy of the NHS-prescribed vaccine for the prevention of human papilloma virus infection in comparison with other vaccines considered for NHS use for the same purposes.

Dawn Primarolo: Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines are highly effective at preventing the infection of susceptible women with the HPV types covered by the vaccine. In clinical trials, both Cervirix and Gardasil vaccines are over 99 per cent. effective at preventing pre-cancerous lesions associated with HPV types 16 or 18 in young women(1). Current studies suggest that protection is maintained for at least six years. Based on the immune responses, it is expected that protection will be extended further; long term follow-up studies are in place. Some other high-risk HPV types are closely related to those contained in the vaccines, and vaccination has been shown to provide some cross-protection against infection by these types(2). Gardasil is also 99 per cent, effective at preventing genital warts associated with vaccine types in young women(3).
	Further information on the vaccine can be found in chapter 18a (human papillomavirus) of Immunisation against infectious disease (the Green Book). Copies of the publication have already been placed in the Library and are also available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/greenbook.
	 Sources:
	(1) Harper etal., 2006; Ault etal., 2007
	(2) Paavonen J et al., 2007; Brown et al., 2007
	(3) Barr et al., 2007

Papillomavirus

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions his Department has had with patient groups concerned with human papilloma virus infection on the availability of vaccines against infection to NHS patients.

Dawn Primarolo: Qualitative attitudinal research was conducted among young girls, their parents and health professionals in May and June 2007. Its purpose was to explore awareness and perceptions of human papilloma virus (HPV) and the vaccination that will protect against it.
	The proposed advertising concepts and information materials were tested among 12 to 13-year-old girls and their mothers. This research took place between December 2007 and February of this year. As well as evaluating our planned communications work, these consultations gave us the opportunity to identify any more recent changes in attitudes and awareness levels.
	Further consultations are planned before and after the introduction of the HPV vaccine.

Pharmacy

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with officials from the Welsh Assembly Government on the ongoing Departmental review of part IX of the Drug Tariff; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what measures have been taken to inform relevant Welsh stakeholders about the Departmental review of part IX of the Drug Tariff; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  whether he has met the Secretary of State for Wales to discuss his Department's review of part IX of the Drug Tariff; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  which Welsh stakeholders have been contacted regarding the Departmental review of part IX of the Drug Tariff; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The review of the arrangements under part IX of the Drug Tariff for the provision of stoma and incontinence appliances and related services in primary care relates to England only.
	However, health officials in the Welsh Assembly have been made aware of the review and have been monitoring its progress.

Pharmacy: Payments

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the effect of payments to pharmacies to conduct medicines use reviews on the number of such reviews conducted.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government are aware of concerns regarding the payment mechanism for medicine use reviews (MURs) and that they are not being targeted to local needs. For this reason, the White Paper Pharmacy in England: building on strengthsdelivering the future (Cm 7341), sets out the Government's belief that MUR services should be prioritised to meet health needs. Copies of this publication are available in the Library. The Government have asked NHS employers to discuss with the Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee a mechanism for delivering this, ensuring funding rewards health outcomes.

Secure Psychiatric Units: Smoking

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Government 
	(1)  have estimated how many mental health trusts made use of the support provided by the Tobacco Control Collaborative Centre to introduce the forthcoming smoking ban in psychiatric units; and whether the Government intend to review the effectiveness of this support once the ban comes into effect;
	(2)  what plans the Government have to measure the effect of the forthcoming smoking ban in in-patient psychiatric units on  (a) the physical health and  (b) the mental health of smokers being treated.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government commissioned the Tobacco Control Collaborating Centre (TCCC) to provide support to mental health service providers in the lead up to the implementation of the smoke free legislation in residential mental health units on 1 July 2008. The TCCC initially met with mental health trust chief executives in the summer of 2007.
	The TCCC wrote to all foundation trusts, national health service trusts and independent providers asking about their smoke-free policies and inviting individual trusts to request additional support, such as visits. The TCCC has also worked with regional stop smoking leads to organise local workshops to address implementation issues. This initial contact was followed up by sending mental health providers smoke free resources, accompanied by a further offer of support to trusts on an individual basis. To date 24 mental health service providers have been visited.
	The Government are not planning to do any specific research on the impact of the smoke-free legislation on the physical or mental health of mental health service users, but is committed to review the impact of the smoke-free law in its entirety within three years of implementation.

Smoking

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number of people aged  (a) under 16,  (b) 17 to 25,  (c) 26 to 45,  (d) 46 to 65 and  (e) 66 years or over who smoke on a regular basis, broken down by sex; what proportion of the total population of each age group these figures represent; and what the equivalent figures were in (i) 2003 and (ii) 1998.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available in the exact format requested.
	The latest information on the prevalence of smoking among adults aged 16 and over in Great Britain, by gender and age group, in 2006 is available from the General Household Survey 2006: Smoking and drinking among adults, 2006. This information is shown in the following table.
	Data on the prevalence of smoking among adults aged 16 and over in England, by gender and age group, for 1998, 2003 and 2005 are available in Statistics on Smoking: England, 2007, in table 2.2, on page 16. Data are given for those aged 16-19, 20-24, 25-34, 35-49, 50-59 and those aged 60 and over. Copies of this publication have been placed in the Library.
	Information on the proportion of children aged 11 to 15 in England, who were regular smokers, by gender, for 1998, 2003 and 2006 is available in Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England in 2006 in table 2.1, on page 38. Equivalent estimates of the number of regular smokers in 2006 among those aged 11 to 15 can be found on page 156, section 5.3. Copies of this publication are available in the Library.
	
		
			  Table 1: Prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults( 1) , by age and gender, 2006( 2) , Great Britain 
			   All ages  16-19  20-24  25-34  35-49  50-59  60 and over 
			 All adults (Percentage) 22 20 31 30 25 22 12 
			 Men (Percentage) 23 20 33 33 26 23 13 
			 Women (Percentage) 21 20 29 26 25 22 12 
			 
			  Weighted bases (Thousand)
			 All adults 42,639 2,573 2,819 6,660 12,027 6,914 11,646 
			 Men 19,918 1,295 1,270 3,140 5,636 3,337 5,240 
			 Women 22,721 1,278 1,548 3,520 6,392 3,577 6,406 
			 
			  Unweighted bases
			 All adults 16,682 815 883 2,373 4,583 2,887 5,141 
			 Men 7,677 392 376 1,053 2,093 1,374 2,389 
			 Women 9,005 423 507 1,320 2,490 1,513 2,752 
			 (1) Aged 16 and over. (2) Results for 2006 include longitudinal data.  Source: General Household Survey 2006, Office for National Statistics.

Smoking

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people aged  (a) under 16,  (b) 17 to 25,  (c) 26 to 45,  (d) 46 to 65 and  (e) 66 years and over have sought assistance from smoking cessation clinics in the latest period for which figures are available.

Dawn Primarolo: The latest data available on the number of people who set a quit date and those who successfully quit smoking at the four week follow up (based on self report) through the NHS Stop Smoking Services are for the period April 2007 to December 2007, which represents quarters 1, 2 and 3 of the 2007-08 period.
	This information can be found in the Statistics on NHS Stop Smoking Services in England April to December 2007 publication in table 2 on page 6, published on 16 April 2008. Data are available for under-18s, 18 to 34-year-olds, 35 to 44-year-olds, 45 to 59-year-olds and those aged 60 and over. Copies of this publication have been placed in the Library.

Smoking: Young People

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to stop children and young people from smoking.

Dawn Primarolo: Reducing smoking among young people is a priority for the Government. Much has already been achieved in this area, including raising the age of sale of tobacco products, legislation to strengthen sanctions available against retailers who persistently sell tobacco to children and young people and smoking is addressed in the national curriculum and through the Healthy Schools Programme.
	Protecting children and young people from smoking is one of four key aspects of the Department's Consultation on the future of tobacco control published on 31 May 2008, copies of the consultation have already been placed in the Library. Responses to the consultation will inform the development of a new strategy on tobacco control, which will include action to continue to tackle the uptake of smoking by young people.

Wheelchairs

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to publish the new model for the delivery of wheelchair services; and what the reasons are for the time taken to publish the model.

Ivan Lewis: As you will be aware, the original intention was to look at community equipment and wheelchair services in parallel. This proved unfeasible due to the need to collate additional data to support any new model for wheelchair provision. The process of collation and analysis of a significant amount of data has now been completed. A decision on the most appropriate way forward, including when to publish the new model, will be taken by the autumn.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcomes have been of the mission in Helmand province in the areas of  (a) drugs,  (b) reconstruction,  (c) winning hearts and minds and  (d) pacification.

Kim Howells: holding answer 2 July 2008
	The UK is providing coordinated military and civilian support to the Afghan government to improve security, governance and development opportunities on a district-by-district basis in Helmand.
	We are supporting Afghan counter narcotics institutions to deliver the National Drug Control Strategy, with an emphasis in Helmand where poppy cultivation is concentrated. Following Musa Qala's recapture in December 2007, the Afghan authorities closed down the major drugs bazaar, closed opium processing labs, and seized several tons of opium, denying resources and opportunities to drugs traders and insurgents. Operations continue in collaboration with increasingly capable Afghan counter narcotics forces. In 2008, 2,590 hectares of poppy were eradicated in Helmand. Where security, governance and economic opportunities are improving, such as Lashkar Gah, farmers are growing less opium than they have done in previous years. We are continuing to support Afghan efforts in licit livelihoods and infrastructure. Following last year's record harvest, the UN Office for Drugs and Crime estimates that opium cultivation in Helmand is stabilising.
	In Helmand 1,824 water supply and sanitation projects, funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), have been completed; over $200,000 in micro-finance loans has been distributed to local community businesses with a repayment rate up to March 2008 of 100 per cent., 50 kilometres of main highway was constructed or resurfaced in 2007 in Helmand through DFID funding; and the legal economy is growing at above the national rate. UK aid towards development work in Helmand includes 9 million of funding for quick-impact projects in 2007-08; a 30 million three-year commitment until 2009 to support agriculture and rural development; and funding for UN Habitat to work in Lashkar Gah on improving municipal services.
	Security remains challenging, particularly in the South and East. Since June 2007, the number of direct attacks on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation-led International Security Assistance Force and the Afghan National Security Force has reduced by half, although the number of asymmetric attacks has increased, for example by improvised explosive devices. The town of Musa Qala, a symbolic Taleban stronghold only three years ago, is now under government control following an Afghan-led operation last December. A kandak (battalion) in the Afghan National Army covering Helmand has achieved Capability Milestone Onemeaning that it is judged (by internationally set standards) to be capable of planning and running operations independently. Improved security has increased commercial traffic across province lines and several private bus operators are now running regular passenger services between Helmand and Kandahar. We are working very closely with Governor Mangal to continue progress on security as well as reconstruction across the province.
	All of this visible reconstruction work combined with a strengthened local governance structure serves to improve public confidence. Across Afghanistan recent polls show the majority of Afghans continue to feel that their country is headed in the right direction. Support in Afghanistan also remains high for the presence of international forces, with national approval ratings in November 2007 of between 60 per cent. (Environics Research Group) and 67 per cent (BBC).

Crimes Against Humanity

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 23 June 2008,  Official Report, column 82W, on crimes against humanity, whether Rose Kabuye, the Rwandan Director-General of State Protocol, was a member of the delegation accompanying President Kagame on his visit to the UK in May 2008; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: holding answer 30 June 2008
	The Government can confirm that Rose Kabuye, the Rwandan Chief of State Protocol, was a member of the delegation accompanying President Kagame on his visit to the UK in May 2008.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the conferences hosted by his Department in each of the last two years; and what the cost was of each conference.

Meg Munn: The information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Pay

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many and what proportion of staff in his Department received bonus payments in each of the last five years; what the largest single payment was in each year; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The following data relate to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in each of the last five years:
	
		
			   Number of recipients of bonuses  Percentage of staff who received a bonus 
			 2007 5,070 89 
			 2006 5,097 83 
			 2005 5,094 83 
			 2004 (1)  
			 2003 5,085 87 
			 (1) Unavailable. 
		
	
	The largest single payments made in each year are:
	
		
			   Payment () 
			 2007 16,000 
			 2006 25,500 
			 2005 13,000 
			 2004 12,000 
			 2003 15,000 
		
	
	The FCO uses non-consolidated, non-pensionable, performance-related bonuses to encourage high performance. We pay annual bonuses to staff in the delegated grades (all except senior managers) based on appraisal evidence of annual performance. The highest individual bonus for these grades in 2007 was 1,850.
	Variable pay (bonus) arrangements for staff in the senior management structure/senior civil service (SMS/SCS) follow a framework set for Whitehall Departments by the Cabinet Office. We use variable pay for SMS/SCS staff to reward excellent individual performance and achievement during the year. Variable pay decisions are based on a judgment by pay committees of what an individual has achieved in comparison with peers. Those who have delivered the best results, and shown real leadership in doing so, receive the biggest bonuses. Those who have delivered least receive nothing. Whitehall Departments were authorised to spend a sum equivalent to 7.6 per cent. of their SMS pay budget on non-consolidated bonuses for senior staff in 2007. 25 per cent. of senior staff will not receive a bonus in 2008.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures his Department has adopted to support the Government's strategy on reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS in other countries.

Meg Munn: Following the launch of the UK AIDS strategy on 2 June, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has asked its overseas missions to promote the aims of the strategy and help its implementation by building international political support for its objectives through their respective host governments. This can be achieved, for example, by advocating leadership on comprehensive HIV prevention.
	The FCO's core skills of negotiation, lobbying and advocacy are providing an important contribution to the Government's HIV/AIDS strategy globally. In countries where the Department for International Development (DFID) is present, FCO posts can lobby and influence within the broader context of our bilateral relationship. Where DFID has little or no presence, our missions constitute the main access point to decision-makers and opinion-formers. This access is particularly important in advance of major international negotiations and meetings.
	For example at our UN mission in Geneva, our ambassador has already promoted the aims of the UK strategy with the UN AIDS Executive Director, Dr. Peter Piot.

Embassies: St. David's Day

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK embassies held a St. David's Day event in 2008.

David Miliband: 13 of our embassies held a St. David's day event in 2008.
	A further seven subordinate posts overseas held a St. David's day event in 2008.
	In addition to this, 11 of our embassies or posts overseas publicised St. David's day via their website and media contacts.

Eritrea: Ethiopia

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will hold discussions with the Governments of  (a) Iran,  (b) Libya and  (c) Qatar on measures to prevent the financial support they provide to the Eritrean Government being used in conflicts on the Eritrean/Ethiopian border.

Meg Munn: We are working hard with the UN and other international partners to resolve the Ethiopia-Eritrea border dispute and bring peace and stability to the region. We take every opportunity to raise the situation with countries that have an interest there.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not had discussions with Iran, Libya or Qatar about financial support to the Eritrean Government and there are currently no plans to do so.

European Commission: Public Appointments

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what conditions must be satisfied by appointees to the European Commission; and what assessment he has made of the compliance of Jacques Barrot's appointment with those conditions.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 1 July 2008
	Conditions for the appointment of Commissioners are set out in Article 213 of the Treaty establishing the European Community. This provides that the Commissioners shall consist of 27 Members, who shall be chosen on the grounds of their general competence and whose independence is beyond doubt.
	Before undertaking their duties, Commissioners are expected to take an oath and also adhere to a conduct, as set out at:
	http://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/code_of_conduct/code_conduct_en.pdf.
	The issue of Mr Barrot's appointment was fully discussed in the European Parliament in 2004 at the time of him being appointed Commissioner for Transport. The European Parliament Legal Service concluded at the time, in their opinion of 25 November 2004, that there were no grounds to oppose Mr. Barrot's appointment.
	We are confident that Mr. Barrot will make a valuable contribution in his new role as Commissioner for Justice, Freedom and Security and we look forward to working with him over the coming months.

Honours: Foreigners

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which individuals who are not UK citizens were awarded honours in the period 1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008; and what the  (a) date of announcement,  (b) honour in question and  (c) reason for the award was in each case.

Meg Munn: As the information requested is lengthy, I will arrange for it to be placed in the Library of the House and for a copy to be sent directly to the hon. Member. Honorary awards to citizens of countries where Her Majesty The Queen is not Head of State are not formally announced. The date of Her Majesty The Queen's formal approval therefore has been included, rather than any date of announcement.
	The list of recipients of honorary awards, starting from January 2007, is now on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's website at:
	http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/about-the-fco/what-we-do/honours/honorarv-awards.

Irish Language

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much  (a) was spent in the most recent period for which figures are available and  (b) is planned to be spent through the British Council's grant-in-aid in support of the promotion of the Irish language outside the UK; and what recent discussions there have been between the Council and the Northern Ireland Executive on such promotion.

Jim Murphy: The British Council has not spent grant in aid on the promotion of the Irish language outside the UK in the recent past, nor does it have plans to do so in the foreseeable future.
	There is limited demand outside the UK for Irish language teaching. Where the opportunity does arise within our programmes for the teaching and development of the Irish language, the British Council has responded. This can be seen in the provision of Irish Language Assistants to schools in Northern Ireland and the support of the Primary Languages Strategy on behalf of the Department of Education Northern Ireland as well as the facilitation of teachers of Irish to attend professional development opportunities in the Republic of Ireland.
	The British Council has discussed its priorities for 2008-11 with officials in the Department of Education and the Department for Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland but has not specifically discussed the promotion of the Irish language with the Northern Ireland Executive.

Maldives: Elections

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to promote free and fair Presidential elections in the Maldives in September.

Kim Howells: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 25 June 2008,  Official Report, column 374W, to the hon. Member for Mid-Norfolk (Mr. Simpson).

Nuclear Free Zones

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what factors are taken into account when deciding whether to sign the protocols of nuclear-free zones.

Kim Howells: holding answer 1 July 2008
	The UK supports the creation of nuclear weapon-free zones in accordance with the Principles and Guidelines in annex I of the report of the 54th session of the UN Disarmament Commission (http://disarmament.un.org/undiscom.htm). These principles and guidelines state, for example, that the nuclear-weapon states should be consulted during the negotiations of each treaty and its relevant protocol/protocols.

Nuclear Free Zones

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to which protocols of nuclear-free zones the UK is a signatory.

Kim Howells: holding answer 1 July 2008
	The UK has signed and ratified the protocols to the treaties of Tlatelolco (Latin America and the Caribbean) and Raratonga (South Pacific) as well as the relevant protocols of the treaty of Pelindaba (Africa), collectively giving treaty-based negative security assurances to over 100 countries.

Nuclear Free Zones

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to sign the protocols of those nuclear-free zones for which the UK is not yet a signatory.

Kim Howells: holding answer 1 July 2008
	The UK supports the principle of both the South-East Asia and Central Asia nuclear weapon-free zones. The UK continues to seek ways to overcome the difficulties that pertain to the treaties of Bangkok and Semipalatinsk so that we can ratify protocols to these treaties. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials continue to have discussions with representatives of members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations and the Central Asian States (the C5) to resolve these difficulties.

Overseas Visits: Security

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost has been of  (a) accommodation and  (b) flights for the employment of overseas security officers as a consequence of staff turnover of personnel employed under the control risk contract in each year since the contract was let; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office contracts Control Risks for the provision of an agreed level of service. The costs of accommodation and flights are included in the contract.

Pakistan: Politics and Government

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent steps he has taken to encourage democratic developments in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: To support a sustained democratic transition in Pakistan, we are talking to leaders from across the political spectrum. The recent visits by my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary, the Home Secretary and the Defence Secretary, have emphasised to Pakistan's leaders the UK's commitment to promoting good governance, strengthening democratic institutions, electoral reform and combating violent extremism and terrorism. We are encouraging Pakistan's political leaders to work together and take a comprehensive approach to development, governance and security so that a more prosperous and stable society based on parliamentary democracy and the rule of law can be established.
	We are also supporting the institutional capacity needed for a stable democracy to take root in Pakistan. The Department for International Development provided 3.5 million to support the recent electoral process in Pakistan. This programme supported the administrative capacity of the Election Commission of Pakistan and civil society work to increase turnout and educate voters. The UK supported and participated in the EU Election Observation Mission (EUEOM) in February 2008 and will support the electoral reforms recommended in the EUEOM final report. UK development assistance to Pakistan will double to 480 million over the next three years. This assistance includes work to strengthen civil society and the capability of government and help to improve government accountability and responsiveness.
	We are also working with EU partners to enhance the EU's commitment to Pakistan to provide assistance and cooperation on economic development and trade, counter-terrorism, non-proliferation, human rights, migration and education.

Pakistan: Terrorism

Andrew Tyrie: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, column 1006W, on Pakistan: terrorism, 
	(1)  what steps the Government took in the cases of the four British nationals who alleged mistreatment; and what the result of this action was in each of the four cases;
	(2)  how the Government learned of the detention in Pakistan of the four dual British/Pakistani nationals.

Kim Howells: holding answer 30 June 2008
	 In the cases of the four British nationals who alleged mistreatment while in Pakistani custody, only three have asked us to pursue these allegations. In all three cases, we have raised the allegations officially with the Pakistani authorities. We have yet to receive any official response from the Pakistani authorities.
	We were informed of the detention of the four dual British/Pakistani nationals either by family members or by foreign officials. In all cases, we officially asked the Pakistani authorities for confirmation of their nationality and of their detention. As Pakistani nationals detained in Pakistan, the authorities were under no obligation to inform us of their detention.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the Albanian statement at the recent Islamic Conference in Kampala on bringing about a negotiated settlement in Darfur.

Meg Munn: The Kampala Declaration, issued at the conclusion of the 35th Session of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers on 24 June called upon
	Member States to contribute to making the UN-African Union (AU) Mission in Darfur and other related initiatives more effective in the stabilisation efforts in Darfur, within the framework of an agreement between Sudan and the UN and the AU.
	The UK continues to support the UN/AU-led political process. A negotiated solution is the only way to achieve sustainable peace and security in Darfur. We talk regularly to international partners, including OIC countries, about how to move the political process forward.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Asylum

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his most recent estimate is of the number of Afghan refugees who have sought refuge in neighbouring countries; and what estimate he has made of the number who have sought refuge in each such country since 2001.

Douglas Alexander: The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimate that there are currently 2,986,509 Afghan refugees worldwide, the majority of whom are based in Pakistan, Iran and India.
	UNHRC has provided the following breakdown of figures for each country showing the refugee population at the end of 2006 to the end of March 2008.
	
		
			  Country  2006  2008 
			 Pakistan 2,153,088 1,905,309 
			 Iran 940,183 932,782 
			 India 9,472 9,447 
		
	
	UNHCR is responsible for monitoring the number of Afghan refugees. For more information, please see www.unhcr.org

Afghanistan: Asylum

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment has been made of the humanitarian needs of refugees from Afghanistan along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border; and what support his Department has provided to meet such needs since 2001.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) liaises closely with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Government of Afghanistan who continue to monitor the humanitarian needs of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The UNHCR does not currently have access to the Afghanistan Pakistan border due to insecurity; however we know that around 1.9 million refugees currently are registered in Pakistan and that the majority of refugees from Afghanistan are not based in the border area.
	DFID continues to monitor UNHCR / Government of Afghanistan figures and the situation closely. DFID does not currently provide direct funding to support IDP and refugee issues, but programmes are currently well funded by other donors and agencies. DFID Afghanistan, with UNHCR and other donors, is planning to undertake an assessment of the overall humanitarian situation in the following months to inform future support programmes.

Afghanistan: Internally Displaced Persons

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his most recent estimate of the number of internally displaced people in Afghanistan is; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) estimate that there are currently 176,000 internally displaced people in Afghanistan. Of this number, approximately 31,500 are estimated to be displaced due to conflict. Other displacement has been caused by unresolved ethnic or tribal conflict, landlessness, property disputes, drought or loss of livestock.

Africa: Food

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his latest assessment is of the likely availability of basic food stuffs in  (a) Ethiopia,  (b) Eritrea and  (c) Nigeria in the next three months; and if he will make a statement.

Gillian Merron: Recent Government figures in Ethiopia, Eritrea and Nigeria have indicated an increase in food production in these three countries, which should lead to greater availability of basic foodstuffs, in particular cereal based products.
	Ethiopia has reported a 49 per cent. increase in food production over the last year. However, in spite of this apparently high domestic availability, prices have risen substantially and Government food stocks are reported to be low. In response, it has reduced taxes on food grains and flour, provided subsidised wheat and oil to poor urban dwellers, and stated its intention to import 150,000mt of wheat for use as subsidised food. The minor belg harvest (end of June), which accounts for 10 per cent. of the country's total harvest, has been reported to be very poor this year and there is evidence of increasing malnutrition in some areas of the country.
	Both Eritrea and Nigeria have reported food production increases (22 per cent. and 10 per cent. respectively), but food prices are expected to remain high, with market supplies limited. Conditions in Nigeria have slightly improved with the onset of the 2008 main rainy season increasing the likelihood of a good harvest starting in September.
	No information is available on official steps being taken in Eritrea to address the food access problems. However, even with Eritrea's recorded increase in food production for 2007 taken into account, the country's food needs are approximately double the local production, making importation and consequent exposure to high international prices inevitable.
	The next three months will remain critical for many areas across these countries and across Africa as a whole. The Department for International Development (DFID) will continue to monitor the situation closely and stands ready to respond where needs are evident.

Africa: Foreign Investment

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes his Department implements that encourage foreign direct investment companies in Africa to use the Global Compact or OECD Guidelines.

Gareth Thomas: The UK Government are a strong supporter of responsible business behaviour and therefore promotes the adherence to the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises and the objectives of the UN Global Compact. The Department for International Development (DFID) and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) promote the OECD Guidelines to UK based companies. For example, DFID has supported the OECD web portal to promote the Risk Assessment Tool for Multinational Enterprises in Weak Governance Zones, and the 2008 Corporate Responsibility conference at Chatham House, where the OECD Guidelines were discussed.

CDC

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development by what means CDC disburses funds; and whether it invests in private companies.

Shahid Malik: CDC is a development finance institution, operating as a fund of funds investor in private sector businesses in the developing world where scarcity of long-term risk capital is a significant constraint on business and economic growth.
	CDC does not invest directly in businesses, but works through fund managers. CDC commits capital to fund managers operating in developing countries who understand the local business environment. The fund managers then invest CDC's (and others') capital in private companies in developing countries. In committing capital to funds, CDC needs to be mindful of the requirement set by UK Government that all of the investments made with its money must be in businesses in developing countries, and 70 per cent. must be in businesses in the poorer developing countries (those with a per capita annual income of less than US $1,750).

China: Earthquakes

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance his Department has given to China for the rescue and rehabilitation efforts in Guangdong province; and if he will make a statement.

Shahid Malik: The UK Government have not provided any assistance to Guangdong province. Guangdong is China's richest province and has not needed international assistance following the flooding that has occurred.

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many jobs his Department expects to relocate under the policy of civil service job dispersal.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development (DFID) has two sites making up its UK headquarters: one in London and the other in East Kilbride, near Glasgow.
	Under the Lyons Review, DFID had a specific commitment to relocate 85 posts from London to East Kilbride from 2004 onwards. We achieved this target by March 2006, when a total of 88 posts had been relocated. The breakdown by financial year is as follows:
	
		
			   Number of posts 
			 2003-04 5 
			 2004-05 40 
			 2005-06 43

Departmental Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by special advisers in his Department in each of the last 10 years.

Douglas Alexander: The total amounts claimed in expenses by special advisers in the Department for International Development (DFID) for financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Amount () 
			 2006-07 1,008.42 
			 2007-08 1,085.22 
		
	
	Details of expenses claimed in previous years could not be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
	DFID's procedures for reimbursing staff expenses are set out in the staff handbook and are in line with the provisions set out in the Civil Service Management Code. The Code can be viewed at:
	www.civilservice.gov.uk/iam/codes/csmc/index.asp.

Developing Countries

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department takes to liaise with the International Monetary Fund on the formulation of policy on developing countries.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) works closely with Her Majesty's Treasury (HMT) to agree UK views on how the IMF can best assist poor countries. Currently, we are working to ensure the IMF provides appropriate assistance to help countries cope with the effects of recent food and oil price increases, and to make its lending facilities more accessible and relevant to the needs of poor countries. DFID country teams also engage with IMF staff on the details of IMF programmes in their respective countries.
	HMT publish an annual report on the UK's engagement with the IMF, a copy of which has been placed in the Library of the House.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what performance-based funding models are used by his Department to determine the pattern of distribution of its AIDS-related funding.

Gillian Merron: The Department for International Development's (DFID) own resources are allocated through an Economic Resource Allocation Model, which directs funds to the poorest countries and is based on need. DFID does not use performance-based funding models to determine the pattern of distribution of its AIDS funding. However, when DFID is designing a project or programme of support, an assessment is made of institutional and/or country performance and effectiveness as part of the design process. Specific recipients of UK support such as the Global Fund, have a strong performance-based funding approach in place.
	DFID is currently developing performance-based funding proposals with UNAIDS, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) designed to drive and reward better performance and results. This will have a bearing on our future core funding levels to these agencies.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what consideration of the greater involvement of people living with AIDS principle will be made in the implentation of the Government's AIDS strategy.

Gillian Merron: The UK Government are committed to the principle of Greater Involvement of People Living With HIV and AIDS, and we will seek to put this principle into action and work with People Living With HIV in implementing actions in support of Achieving Universal Accessthe UK strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) supports global and national networks of People Living With HIV and affected communities, such as the Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), the International Community of Women Living With HIV (ICW) and the International Harm Reduction Association (IHRA). This has helped to strengthen their leadership and meaningful involvement in the AIDS response.

Developing Countries: Security

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps the Government have taken to improve the effectiveness of security institutions, including police, in poor countries.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development (DFID) is currently committed to spending 135 million on security and access to justice programmes in 13 countries around the world. These programmes seek to improve the quality of security and justice service delivery to the populations of developing countries. Our programmes build both effectiveness and accountability by strengthening the capacity of civilian institutions to provide effective management and oversight. For example, in Sierra Leone, DFID has supported the creation of the Office of National Security, a civilian-led organisation that co-ordinated the security sector's role in Sierra Leone's free and fair presidential and parliamentary elections held last year.

Developing Countries: Security

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent steps the Government have taken to reduce levels of corruption in the security forces of poor countries.

Gareth Thomas: Reducing corruption and improving governance and accountability for budgets in security forces forms an important part of the Department for International Development's (DFID) work to improve security and access to justice for the poor. DFID is currently committed to spending 135 million on security and justice programmes in 13 countries. Many of these programmes aim to strengthen overall management of security institutions, which helps drive out corruption. Some also include a specific component aimed directly at reducing corruption. For example, DFID is currently working with Ugandan officials to improve procurement systems and thereby reduce the potential for corruption in the defence ministry.
	DFID also funds the non-governmental organisation Transparency International (UK), which works to reduce corruption by increasing openness and oversight of defence and security equipment procurement in developing countries around the world.

Drugs: Crime

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps he is taking with the Foreign Secretary to enhance co-ordination between the Foreign Office's Drugs and Crime programme and his Department's work to advance harm reduction.

Gareth Thomas: The UK Government published their policy position on harm reduction in 2005 to ensure a co-ordinated, collaborative UK approach. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Home Office are working together to improve the international environment for harm reduction. This will include advocating for a stronger emphasis on harm reduction at the UN General Assembly Special Session on Narcotic Drugs in 2009.

International Monetary Fund: Managers

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to encourage the International Monetary Fund to establish a ministerial council.

Kitty Ussher: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have been formulating and building support for its agenda for the reform of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following the successful conclusion of the Quota and Voice reform debate. The Chancellor set out the key principles of this agenda at the time of the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary and Financial Committee in April, with the aim of building momentum towards a reformed institution that is sufficiently flexible to adapt to the global issues of the 21st century, and one that has a strengthened political process at its heart to lock in the commitment of its membership to multilateral cooperation. The Government recognise that activation of the IMF Council would represent a significant step towards a genuinely strengthened political process, and will continue to engage the IMF and other Governments to secure this objective.

Languages

William Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department's employees, other than those engaged locally hold language qualifications in  (a) Arabic,  (b) Farsi,  (c) Dari or Pashto,  (d) Mandarin,  (e) Swahili and  (f) Japanese.

Gillian Merron: Details of specific language qualifications held by staff in the Department for International Development (DFID) are not readily available. Such details could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost to the organisation.

Quota and Voice Reform

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proposals are included in the Quota and Voice reform that was agreed to by the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund.

Kitty Ussher: I have been asked to reply.
	The recently agreed International Monetary Fund (IMF) Quota and Voice reform package included proposals for a 5.4 per cent. shift in voting shares from over-represented to under-represented countries, and led to 135 countries receiving an increase in voting share, in part reflecting the tripling of basic votes to enhance the voice of low-income countries; and for the two African constituencies to each appoint an additional Executive Director. The Government supported this reform, as it makes significant progress towards a better reflection of countries relative weights on the world stage, enhances the voice of developing countries, and contributes towards a more legitimate and effective IMF.

Zimbabwe: Overseas Aid

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of distribution of humanitarian aid in Zimbabwe.

Douglas Alexander: On 4 June, the Government of Zimbabwe suspended the activities of all NGOs and private and voluntary organisations (PVOs). The UN can still operate but many of its programmes including much of its food aid are delivered through NGOs so distribution of relief has been seriously affected.
	The UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that around 1.5 million people are being affected by the Government's suspension of NGO activity in Zimbabwe. If the suspension extends into July and beyond, this number will rise. The longer the suspension goes on, the more serious the impact on relief efforts. The World Food Programme's main feeding programme is due to scale up from August and should reach around 4 million people at the height of the hungry season in early 2009. Absence of large scale feeding programmes in the second half of the year could lead to high levels of malnutrition and increased mortality.

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Post Office Network

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans he has for the future of the post office network; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The Government have committed a funding package of 1.7 billion to 2011 to modernise and reshape the post office network and to put it on a more stable and sustainable footing, providing national coverage of around 11,500 post office outlets underpinned by the Government's access criteria.

Post Office Network

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (1) if he will make a statement on the future of the post office network;

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make a statement on the future of the post office network.

Patrick McFadden: The Government have committed a funding package of 1.7 billion to 2011 to modernise and reshape the post office network and to put it on a more stable and sustainable footing, providing national coverage of around 11,500 post office outlets underpinned by Government set access criteria.

Post Office Network

David Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform if he will make a statement on the future of the post office network.

Patrick McFadden: The Government have committed a funding package of 1.7 billion to 2011 to modernise and reshape the Post Office network and to put it on a more stable and sustainable footing, providing national coverage of around 11,500 post office outlets underpinned by Government set access criteria.

Post Office Closures

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what plans he has for further consultations on the post office branch closure programme.

Patrick McFadden: Up to 1 July, Post Office Ltd has published and put out to local public consultation 34 area plans. A further seven area plans are still to start local public consultations. The programme is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.

Post Office Closures

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with Royal Mail on the application of the Government's criteria for deciding post office closures.

Patrick McFadden: I have regular discussions with Post Office Ltd. (POL) about a range of post office network issues, including closures under the company's network change programme and the application of the Government's access criteria. To date, the company is exceeding all the national access criteria set by Government. On completion of its network change programme, POL will retain 689 post office branches in Greater London, ensuring that 99.9 per cent. of the population will either see no change to the post office they currently use or remain within one mile by road of an alternative branch.

Fuel Poverty

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the likely effects on levels of fuel poverty of increases in gas and electricity prices forecast to occur before the end of 2008.

Malcolm Wicks: Any price increases will put upward pressure on the numbers of households in fuel poverty, the specific impact can not be estimated as the Department does not forecast retail energy prices.
	The Government have a range of measures to help with fuel bills.

Severn Barrage

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent representations he has received on the Severn barrage tidal power feasibility study.

Malcolm Wicks: I am in touch with a large range of stakeholders on the Severn Tidal Power feasibility studywhich looks at all tidal range technologies, including barrages and lagoons. These stakeholders include potential developers, local government, local businesses and environmental organisations. I also chair a parliamentary forum for all interested MPs, Peers and Welsh Assembly Members.

Power Stations

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had with Welsh Assembly Government Ministers on the transfer to them of responsibility for power stations of capacity greater than 50 MW.

Malcolm Wicks: The latest discussions on this issue concluded some time ago, and the Planning White Paper made it clear that the UK Government do not agree with the Welsh Assembly Government case for changing the devolution settlement in this respect. However, I look forward to working closely with Welsh Ministers on how the new planning regime, to be established by the Planning Bill, can deliver Britain's vital major energy infrastructure to meet the energy challenges of the 21st century.

World Trade Organisation

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent discussions he has had on means to achieve progress in the World Trade Organisation's Doha development round.

Gareth Thomas: The Government continue to work with the EU Trade Commissioner, other EU member states and other WTO members to achieve an ambitious, pro-development outcome to the Doha round in 2008. Pascal Lamy, the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, recently announced a WTO ministerial in the week of 21 July. We will be working hard to ensure that this ministerial results in an agreement, which will make it possible to secure an overall Doha deal this year.

Energy Prices

Eric Illsley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the effects of energy prices on UK competitiveness; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: Energy prices have risen globally, the UK cannot escape this, and my Department is keenly aware of the pressure on industry from rising input prices.
	International price comparisons are complex, showing different pictures among different size categories of consumer. Overall, average industrial gas and electricity prices in the UK are broadly in line with average prices in the EU15.
	Actual price differentials vary between sectors, but some energy intensive sectors are under particular pressure, and we are maintaining dialogue with them about this.

Vehicle Registration Plates

Angela Watkinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport and manufacturers of vehicle registration plates on the integration into the design of plates of features which prevent theft.

Malcolm Wicks: There have been no discussions between my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Transport, and the manufacturers of vehicle registration plates, on the integration of anti-theft features into the design of registration plates.
	In February 2006 the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agencyin consultation with number plate manufacturers, the Home Office, the police and companies that test security productsadopted a voluntary standard for theft-resistant number plates. These are more difficult to detach, and cannot be fitted to another vehicle once detached. Theft-resistant number plates and products meeting the standard are currently available through around 300 retail outlets.

Oil Refining

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effect of levels of UK refining capacity on oil prices.

John Hutton: There is currently a mismatch between the type of crude oil available and the refining capabilities at a global scale. This has contributed to the rise in crude and oil product prices.
	The UK's refining output in 2006 was approximately 2 per cent. of world output according to statistics from the International Energy Agency. Hence, any changes in UK refining capacity are unlikely to have a major effect on global oil prices.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the  (a) scheduled date and  (b) title was of each conference proposed to be hosted by his Department and its agencies which was cancelled before taking place in each of the last 10 years; and what costs were incurred in respect of each.

Gareth Thomas: The Department does not hold this information centrally and this could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Visits Abroad

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost of overseas visits by each Minister in his Department has been since 1997.

Gareth Thomas: Since 1999 the Government have published the total cost of all overseas travel by Ministers and a list of all overseas travel by Cabinet Ministers costing over 500. Information for the last financial year was published on 25 July 2007,  Official Report, column 1112W. Details for the financial year 2007-08 will be published before the summer recess and will include details of overseas visits undertaken by all Ministers. All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the Ministerial Code.
	Information in respect of overseas visits by all Ministers for the period 1997-99 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Fuels: Fees and Charges

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government are taking to mitigate the effects of domestic fuel prices on living costs; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Government have a range of measures to help with fuel bills, including grants to improve energy efficiency and the winter fuel payment, to which this year we will add one off payments of 100 for the over-80s and 50 for the over-60s.
	Spending on energy efficiency and other measures for the elderly and those on low incomes is expected to be around 2.3 billion during this current spending period.

Origin Marking: Isle of Man

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what response he has made to the Italian objection to the UK application for protected designation of origin and protected geographical indication for Isle of Man Manx Loaghtan lamb.

Jonathan R Shaw: I have been asked to reply.
	I am pleased to say that, following discussions between DEFRA officials and their Italian counterparts, the Italian objection was withdrawn and the name 'Isle of Man Manx Loaghtan Lamb' was registered as a PDO on 23 April 2008. It is the 37th UK product to be protected and we are continuing to encourage more applications under the scheme.

Post Office Card Account

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what recent assessment he has made of the effects of the operation of the Post Office Card Account on the business viability of Post Office Ltd.

Patrick McFadden: The Department for Work and Pensions is currently managing a competitive tender process for the successor product to the Post Office Card Account and an announcement is expected later in the year. In advance of the procurement decision being announced, it would not be appropriate for the Government to speculate on the possible consequences of the outcome.

Post Offices: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his plans are for the post office network in Greater London; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: Post Office Ltd. has confirmed that, following its network change programme, it will retain 689 post office branches in Greater London, ensuring that 99.9 per cent. of the population will either see no change to the post office they currently use or remain within one mile by road of an alternative branch.